No longer my baby

Zoe started sleeping in her toddler bed this weekend. We assembled her toddler bed, which we have had for months. I bought it on Craigslist long before Sophie was born thinking we would move her out of the crib before Sophie was born. We realized a couple of months before my due date she was just not ready to move out of her crib. She LOVES her crib and sleeps so well in it.

On a whim John and I decided to put the bed together and she how she would do on Saturday for a nap. She did pretty well going to sleep in it, although we didn't think about the fact the bed is under two windows so she spent some of her time in bed opening and closing the shutters. I had to go up after about 10 minutes and remind her it was bedtime and not to get out of the bed. She wasn't getting out of bed to play with her toys -- oh no -- she wanted to get out on the side and climb in over the foot board, my little climber. She slept really well until she fell out. John and I were concerned about that because she moves so much when she sleeps still. She still does laps around her crib at night. So she got scared when she fell out and that was the end of her nap -- still about an hour, not bad for the first time. We ended up putting up a guard rail that is meant for a twin bed that we got from Jeanetta. It actually fits perfectly the entire length of the bed so she can't fall out. This also makes it feel a little more enclosed for her which I think is what she loved about her crib. In time, we will try to remove the guard rail in hopes she learns to not move as much when she sleeps.

Last night John and I were out and my dad put her to bed in her new bed and she went to sleep without a problem. Slept all night and woke up a little early this morning and again played with the shutters. My hope is the novelty will wear off after a while.

Again today she napped and is sleeping in her bed tonight. This afternoon I had to go in a remind her again it is nap time, not play time. But after that she settled down and went to sleep for her normal two hour nap.

This started because when Zoe was at Veronica's, her babysitter, on Friday she slept in a toddler bed rather than the normal pack-n-play. Veronica said she did great, so John and I figured maybe she is ready. John thought maybe now would be a good time to try it since she does nap and go to bed without any problems. She actually asks to go to bed occasionally.

I had a hard time with her sleeping in the "big girl" bed last night for two reasons. It made me realize she is growing up and no longer my baby. It was also uncomfortable know she can get out of bed and roam around her room and the house. Until we can gate her room we decided to lock her door tonight. I am sure in time I will get more comfortable with the idea she is up and possibly play in her room while I am sleeping.