big boy bed

Two weeks ago Charlie decided he could get out of his crib. So I poured myself a glass of wine put on my mean mommy voice and told him that was NOT ok. But he continued to climb out time and again. So after a couple of days of this I decided if I was going to have to train him not to get out of his bed it might as well be a bed that he couldn't hurt himself getting out of. So I went in search of a "big boy bed". Found one on Craigslist (don't you just love Craigslist?) for $30 bucks. So Chris and I picked it up one evening after a date night. (Nice date night, huh?). We got him a toddler bed, which just uses his crib mattress, and we got home, set it up and he got to sleep in it that first night (yes, our date nights often end early)! We made a big deal out of how it is for big boys only and he needs to stay in it and not get out until we get him. Which didn't really work, until we set up the consequences of getting out.

You get out of your bed, you don't get hot milk. Period. And dude, this kid LOVES hot milk. So it works. Mostly.

But please, don't be fooled by the smiles. Big boy beds are not all fun and games. Sometimes he goes to bed like a champ, and calls for me in the morning. And other times? (Like right this very minute? Naptime is SUCKING). And other times I wake up with a toddler in my bed that I didn't put there. And then there is no hot milk in the morning, or after nap. Which sucks for everyone, because, well, Charlie really likes hot milk.

I've currently got the crib for sale on Craigslist, so there's no going back now. He's two and a half, which I'm guessing is a little on the early side of average for the transition. How about those of you with toddlers? Still in a crib? How'd your transition go?