Posted by Michelle Kersey on Tue, Apr 27, 2010 @ 01:38 PM
I know many moms wonder or think about the day when your baby grows up and becomes a toddler, you start to see a glimpse of a big boy or big girl underneath those baby eyes. Around this time is when you'll transform your crib into the toddler bed stage. I wanted to share my experience with you.
When I knew it was time to Convert
When my son was 21 months he started attempting to climb out of the crib. One night, he got about halfway up. At that point, I decided it was time to convert his crib to the toddler bed stage.
Thankfully, we have always planned on using our Kathryn crib to the fullest. Meaning we bought it to convert to a toddler bed and then a full sized bed later on. The preparation needed was minimal to make this transition. Other than mental that is.
We picked a day where my husband had two days off in a row to make the switch. To our surprise, it only took him less than 20 minutes to convert the crib to a toddler bed... with limited help from me. The instructions were easy and all the nuts and bolts were there.
First reactions from our son
Our son was bursting with excitement when he saw his toddler bed. He climbed in and just sat there looking around and taking in the new unobstructed view. He was pretty happy.
Adjusting to a new sleep schedule
The next week was an adventure. One morning, I woke up to him yelling "Mommy, Daddy! Mommy, Daddy!" When I ran in there, I found him standing in the top drawer of his Generation Next Combo dresser; the drawer was pulled all the way out! If I wasn't so worried, I would have taken a picture. I was amazed that he climbed up the entire dresser and neither he nor the drawer fell! Needless to say, I was amazed at the strength of the furniture and very happy that I had installed the tipping restraint kit that it came with.
Another bump in our adventure was getting him to stay IN the bed. Camron was a perfect sleeper before the transition. He would fall asleep on his own and stay asleep for 10-12 hours. However, with his new found freedom, he was not my perfect little sleeper anymore. First, I tried the "Super Nanny" advice of putting him back in bed every time he got up. But, after a few days of that it turned into a game for him. As soon as we walked out the door he would be right behind us. I then tried staying in there with him until he fell asleep, also to no avail. Finally, I remembered what worked when he was a baby... the Ferber Method. It took two days and he was staying in bed and falling asleep on his own again. There was only one glitch to the Ferber Method this time around; I had to find a way to keep him in his room. So, I took a childproof doorknob cover off another door and put it inside his room. It worked. It also kept him safe inside his room where everything had been toddler proofed.
Still having sweet dreams in his toddler bed
It has been 8 months and Camron is still sleeping well in his Kathryn toddler bed. The doorknob cover has been taken off; he stays in his room and happily goes to bed every night. To help with the switch, we kept the same routine from the crib stage in the toddler stage; bath, brush teeth, book, bed. Best of all, the crib we chose helped keep the transition minimal. There was no need to talk him into liking his new bed, it was the same bed, the same mattress, sheets, and bedding that he was already used to. It will continue to be the same bed for quite some time.
Posted by Kelly Kuch on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 @ 01:55 PM
New nursery furniture with a modern twist! We are very excited to introduce our new CUBE collection. This collection has so much to talk about, but the most exciting is that it is 1 Crib with 2 Styles. The Crib converts not just one but 2 FULL-PLATFORM BEDS!
Check out the possibilities and options this gives you. Convert to both full-size beds (for full benefit) or take your pick on which style headboard you like better. Storage Drawer (included with crib) wheels right under the bed!
The CUBE changing table has an innovative 3-in-1 design.
It can be used as a three-drawer dresser, pulled open to use as changing station, and later used as a desk. The built in cubby underneath the pull-out top offers the exact size for a changing pad or desk essentials. This is a great piece for small spaces as it can be all pushed together at the end of the day. Pull-out top is on wheels and is able to be pivoted at any angle.
Posted by Kelly Kuch on Tue, May 05, 2009 @ 04:57 PM
Looking for a sleigh crib to make a dramatic statment in your nursery? Large pieces of premium solid wood are hand curved to create a striking tulip shape on the Crib 2 College crib.
Baby's Dream Crib 2 College sleigh crib converts to Toddler and Twin, and offers great value. Available in Snowdrift, Cinnamon, or Espresso.
See how Crib 2 College compares to other similar sleigh cribs:
|
|
Baby's Dream
Crib 2 College® crib |
Others |
|
Price |
MSRP: $699 |
$999 +$100 shipping = $1,099 |
|
Safety |
JPMA Certified |
-- |
|
Conversion to toddler bed |
FREE |
up to $129 Extra |
|
Conversion to Adult Bed |
YES
Twin Platform Bed |
No |
|
Sustainable Forests |
YES |
-- |
|
Color options |
(3)
Cinnamon
Espresso
Snowdrift white |
(1) |
Crib 2 College converts to Twin!
With Baby's Dream Crib 2 College crib you receive true convertibility, by being able to convert the crib to toddler stage with no extra purchase (drop-gate becomes the guard rail at toddler stage), and then later converting to a Twin platform bed. This is a great value!
Posted by Kelly Kuch on Thu, Apr 23, 2009 @ 10:54 PM
If you are newly pregnant and just shopping for baby products, you may be unsure of what a "drop-gate" crib is and what it does, since it is unlike anything in the market. Here is everything you need to know:
A Drop-Gate crib is one in which the top 6-9 inches of the crib folds down. To operate you push in a finger latch on both the left and right side simultaneously, allowing the gate to fold down.
Added Safety
Since users must have an arm span the width of the crib to open or close the gate, Baby's Dream drop-gate design provides added safety by preventing small children from accessing the baby. Additionally, the gate itself has a beveled construction to prevent finger pinching. Many consider drop-gate designs safer than drop-side cribs (where the entire front frame moves up and down).
Easier Access
The extra room the gate provides parents to bend over into the crib is very helpful (up to 9 inches). Parents of all heights sometimes have difficulty putting a sleeping baby to bed on stationary models where it can sometimes be a very high side to bend over. Test out cribs when shopping, and envision when the mattress is at the lowest level and your baby is the heaviest if you will easily be able to reach. Many times shorter parents find drop-gates easier.
2-in-1 Functionality
The gate performs double duty by being used later on as the guardrail when converted to toddler bed. This could be a savings of up to $50 in some cases since there is no additional purchase required.
Where to Buy?
Drop-gate cribs are sold exclusively through Baby's Dream Furniture retailers or online at www.babysdream.com.
For detail product demonstrations, refer to the online video "Watch & Learn About a Convertible Nursery" www.babysdream.com. Baby's Dream is the exclusive supplier of Drop-gate crib models and has been top-rated by Baby Bargains and Consumer Reports.