Just a few months ago, our little one was still snug in her crib. Yes, you heard that right! You, in the stylish outfit at the back, might be wondering how old she is. Looks down, mumbles softly She’s… um… three and a half. Okay, fine! She’s almost four! There, I said it.
I get it. It sounds wild, but somehow, this kid who can launch herself off playground equipment and backflip off couches never once thought to escape her crib. It just never crossed her mind. Without an older sibling to lead the way, she simply accepted her crib as her realm, and we happily let her stay.
It wasn’t just laziness on our part; we intentionally decided to stretch this milestone for as long as we could. Our friends, frazzled from their own experiences, warned us: “Don’t do it! It’s a nightmare!” They’d spent countless nights wrestling with their own kids trying to keep them in bed, and they begged us to keep our daughter in her “baby jail” forever.
There was such a comforting sense of safety in knowing exactly where she was when bedtime rolled around. Our evenings were a beautiful routine: shower, brush teeth, read a story, and by 8 p.m. (ish) she was in her crib. Twelve hours later, we’d wake to find her on the monitor, reading to her stuffed animals, patiently waiting for us to start the day.
Then came that one fateful weekend trip where the only available sleeping arrangement was not a crib. Upon returning home, she announced, with all the maturity of a tiny negotiator, that she was ready for a “big kid bed.” And like fools, we believed her.
At first, everything seemed fine. She loved the new bed and was so worried about losing it that her behavior mirrored her crib days. But that precious feeling of security? Gone in an instant. I was suddenly tormented by nightmares of her wandering out the front door at night or sneaking into her brother’s room. I had always been a light sleeper, but now, I couldn’t sleep at all.
Once she realized she wasn’t confined anymore? Game over. Our once peaceful nights filled with her sleeping through the night transformed into a chaotic marathon. She still wakes up once or twice, but now we’re dealing with a child who transforms into a nocturnal being.
Every night, we tuck her in, and she pops out before we can even settle down. “I forgot to give you a hug!” “I need a glass of water!” “Did you hear that noise?” What used to be cherished quiet time for my husband and me has morphed into a cardio workout as we run up and down the stairs to tuck her back in.
Finally, when the house is dark and quiet for those precious 90 minutes, I try to catch some Zs, but the second I doze off, I hear the creak of the bedroom door, and I’m jolted awake by her face—just inches from mine, hissing “Mooommm…” It’s a horror movie moment that would wake anyone up with a start.
Despite her new night owl tendencies, she miraculously rises at dawn, and by 6:30 a.m., she’s kindly roused her baby brother too. We’ve tried everything—begging, bribing, reasoning, even a special alarm clock that worked for two mornings until she figured out she could just ignore it.
In our most desperate moments, we’ve even pondered putting her back in the crib. Oh, how we regret not keeping her there until college!
So, here I am, your weary friend, coffee in hand, urging you: Unless your child is executing acrobatic feats over the crib rails, hang in there. There are plenty of milestones ahead. I know they’re growing up fast and you can’t wait to see their joy when they first climb into that big kid bed—but trust me, you’re not ready for this. I don’t care if they’re 12 years old. It’s a trap.
Please, for the love of sleep, promise us you’ll keep them in that crib as long as you can!
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Summary
Keeping your child in their crib as long as possible can save you from sleepless nights and unexpected chaos. The transition to a big kid bed may seem exciting, but parents often find that the reality comes with challenges that disrupt their peace. If your little one isn’t attempting to escape, consider holding off on the big bed milestone to maintain your sanity and sleep!