Today’s post was supposed to be about turning Levi’s nursery into a big boy room. My plan was to share an inspiration board like I did for the new baby’s nursery.
In my mind, the transition from nursery to big boy room seemed easy. We’d move Levi’s crib, dresser, and glider into the new nursery and replace them with a bed, a different dresser, and a bookcase or toy storage.
For almost anybody else, the task to find a bed, dresser, and bookcase would be relatively easy.
But not when you’re 38 weeks pregnant and already chronically indecisive.
I hit my first roadblock almost immediately trying to decide on a bed. In truth, I spent hours yesterday browsing furniture websites just for beds (and pinning more stylish kids rooms to my Nurseries and Toddler Bedrooms Pinterest board). I just couldn’t make up my mind: Did we want a toddler bed or twin bed? A platform bed or a bed with a headboard?
When I posed the question on Facebook last week, the overwhelming majority of you suggested we move Levi straight from his crib into a twin bed with rails. And from a money-saving standpoint, I totally agree.
But from a Montessori perspective, I like the idea of having a bed that’s just Levi’s size. Besides, he sleeps curled up in a little ball and still fits comfortably in his crib. I can’t even picture my little guy tucked under the covers of a twin bed.
I should probably mention at this point that we didn’t buy the conversion kit to Levi’s crib, and the manufacturer has since gone out of business. Oops.
So instead of putting together a complete inspiration board, I only got so far as toddler beds and twin beds. I need to make a decision on a bed before anything else because the type of bed will also influence furniture placement.
Do you agree that we should skip the toddler bed and go straight to a twin? Or is it worthwhile to let Levi, who’s 2-1/2 years old, sleep in a toddler-size bed for the next two years (before passing it along to his brother)?
1. Classic toddler bed // 2. Hiya toddler bed // 3. Wyatt twin bed // 4. Simple low bed frame //
5. Blake twin bed // 6. Sparrow twin bed // 7. Cookie twin storage bed
We went the toddler bed route. My oldest began climbing and jumping out of his crib the day before I started a new job (while he Dad was deployed, of course!) and in desperation I ran to Baby’s R US and bought the least ugly toddler bed they had. I thought we would keep it for a few months and pick out a big bed when my husband got home. In reality, my son liked it and since he is a wild sleeper and rolled out regularly, I ended up liking it. We just switched both boys to twin beds this year (at 4 and 5 years old). Financially I would have liked to go straight to a twin, but in the end, I’m glad we did it this way. I think they felt more emotionally ready for a “big boy” bed now versus at 2 when I had to make the decision. Every child and family is different though, and it will work just fine no matter what decision you make! Good luck!
We moved Spencer into a toddler bed a week after his third birthday, when we moved into the new house. He loved his crib and never tried to climb out, so we wanted the transition to be as subtle as possible. Truthfully, if we hadn’t been moving, we would have kept him in the crib even longer. I am thinking we will probably move to a twin around his 4th birthday, since he’ll also be switching schools at that time, so we can make a big deal to get a big bed for a big boy. Levi will do fine in whatever you put him in, though!
it’s a matter of how much you want to invest. either you buy the toddler bed, and then have to buy 2 twin beds later on, or you buy 1 twin now and one later. or give levi a bigger bed and the new guy gets the twin. either way, you would be buying more beds.
but you also said “you love the idea of a levi sized bed.” ok, well, isn’t that your answer? you told us what you love.
i don’t have any advice regarding what i personally would do. we have the option to purchase the conversion kit for Hunter’s crib still. He is approaching 2 and has no interest (yet) in climbing out of his crib, so I am not looking to move him yet. When we went on the cruise in December, he slept on a backwards facing couch all week and he was totally fine and happy. (yet we turned it around so there were still 3 out of 4 “walls” surrounding him. Our next test is going away at the end of April.. I don’t think he will be happy with the pack n play anymore so I think we’re asking for a rollaway bed and using inflatable pool noodles as “rails” around him. If he does ok, we’ll probably opt for a twin bed for him when the time comes if we need his crib. But since I can’t even imagine a sibling for him right now, there is a good chance he will keep his crib and it will eventually go to toddler size and then full size.
I’ll add another vote for a toddler bed. I switched my daughter on her second birthday because we moved and left the crib behind. She loves having a bed that is just her size. She loves climbing in and out. She loves sitting in bed to read and play. I think it would be different if she had more difficulty getting in and out.
As for the cost, I see the toddler bed as something not to splurge on. It’s a temporary transition. I had assumed I would end up with a plastic princess bed or something, but I was lucky enough to find a beautiful dark wood sleigh bed on Craigslist for $40. I’d planned to paint it, but once I had it all made up, I fell in love. And now I have time to find her the perfect Jenny Lind twin bed for when she’s ready to upgrade.
So, I was totally set on painting my old bed for Gavin and a bureau already in that room until this post! I just ordered #7 with a discount code and feel super motivated (and relieved I don’t have to paint!) to actually focus on his big boy room. I hope you’re able to find some motivation and energy soon!
I have definitely heard that toddler beds are not worth it, but I chickened out because our 2 year old son was quickly outgrowing his mini crib and I wasn’t ready for him to be in a twin bed yet. I’m glad I got the toddler bed in the end, because he did fall out of it a bunch of times before he got the hang of it. I guess it depends how active a sleeper they are? But we plan on having a few kids, so I think I’ll get my money’s worth. We bought a Kid Kraft one and it was only $100, so no big loss.
That’s a good point. I guess Levi is a somewhat active sleeper — every once in a while we catch a glimpse of him on the baby monitor upside down in bed!
You’re not the first person to recommend a KidKraft toddler bed, so perhaps I should check them out. Thanks!