Big girl bed

About a month back we went crazy. We did the sleep training with Rhys and decided in the middle of it that it was a good time to change Cora from a crib to a toddler bed. Now, I had been holding off making this switch for one simple reason: naps.

See, Cora stopped really taking a nap sometime around Thanksgiving. I kept putting her in her crib and letting her play during nap time with the intense hope she would actually sleep. Alas, most times she just yelled loudly from her crib. I was afraid that if she wasn't contained in her crib she wouldn't stay in her room and I would never get a moment's peace! Finally, though, Geoff and I gave in and decided naps are a thing of the past for our girl.

So we started quiet time. Cora didn't know what to do. She would lay down on the floor with a blanket over her because she couldn't lay in her crib. She even fell asleep on the floor once or twice. Finally, I gave in. If she isn't going to nap then why not put her in a toddler bed? At least that way she has a place to sit during quiet time and she can fall asleep on her bed rather than the floor.

Not a baby anymore.

One weekend we took a trip to Target and let her pick out some new bedding, which has cute little animals and trees on it. Yes, parental guidance was involved, otherwise she would have chosen the Cinderella bedding, and we just aren't prepared for an all out princess room yet. When we got home, Cora "helped" her Daddy take the front rail off the crib and "helped" me make the bed with her new sheets, bedspread, and pillow. She was very excited.

Staged shot in her new bed. Using the boppy instead of her actual pillow, but whatever.

How did her first night in the new bed go? Fantastic! A little bit of stalling at bedtime, but she never got up and tried to leave her room at all. In fact, she stayed in bed all night! Except for the time she fell out. We heard a huge BOOM, and, knowing exactly what it was, Geoff raced upstairs only to find her still asleep on the floor. She didn't even wake when he picked her up and put her back in bed! So far she has never gotten out of bed and tried to leave the room. I do know that she has gotten out of bed at night before, because she has woken up with extra toys and books in bed. Strangely, we still have to go and get her out of bed in the morning. She will call to us that she is awake, but she won't get up until we come into her room. And then sometimes she yells at us to go away because she is still sleeping. Ooookay.

We've found her this way fairly often.

Notice the book she is clutching/sleeping on?

Since the switch, Cora has gotten used to having quiet time up in her room. She can usually be found reading to Douglas (her lovey) and numerous other toys in bed, and she manages to fall asleep about once or twice a week. It is a huge stress relief for me to know that she can sleep if she needs a nap, but she is free to play (quietly!) if she isn't tired.

Dear Rhys is also doing well now. He goes to sleep on his own with no or minimal fussing for nights and naps. He has had a rough few weeks lately, as he's gotten one new tooth and is working on another. So, more night waking, but only about 2-3 times a night. Nothing like the 5 or 6 we were dealing with earlier! That being said, he did wake up at 5:45 this morning. Here's hoping he doesn't repeat tonight.

She still sleeps in the craziest positions!