Big Boy Bed

Scott has known about his Big Boy Bed for quite a while. He's encountered it a number of times in the attic. Every time I have gone up there with a box or come down with a suitcase, he has climbed up the ladder for a peek. One of the only things he could see from the top rung of the ladder (he's not allowed off the ladder to walk around up there) was the frame and headboard of the toddler bed we got from R's sister. Since the first time that I pointed it out to him, he has greeted it like an old friend -- along with his big yellow dump truck that is hibernating up there.


Finally, the bed came down out of the attic. We did some renovations last weekend to divide our master bedroom in half to restore the original floorplan of the house and provide a baby room. It was an opportune time to replace the carpet, so we had to pull all the furniture out of all the bedrooms. Scotty's crib had to be disassembled, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to make the transition. We are trying to prep him for the baby's arrival by emphasizing his new status as a big boy, so he won't feel like the baby is stealing his identity -- and his bed.


I have never seen a child so excited to go to bed before. We worried that training him to sleep in this bed would be a difficult, sleepless battle. It's been a breeze so far. We briefed him on the bed's use, laying out two simple rules: 1) no jumping on the bed; 2) stay in the bed. Rule 1 came out naturally, since that was his first impulse. Rule 2 has been working quite well so far. He has waited in his bed for us to come get him -- much like his crib. We wonder how long it will last before he realizes that he can get out himself. Imagine if he arrived at his first sleepover with Rule 2 intact -- all the other kids would get up for breakfast and he would be stuck there, waiting for someone to let him out.

I think Rule 2 will fade quickly -- but hopefully not too quickly.