Big Boy Bed

Last Saturday we finally tackled the switching around of rooms that I’ve been dreading. For the most important portion of the day, we needed a bed rail and some twin sheets, hence the reason for Nola’s and my run-around last Friday. Kenny and I finally decided it was time to transition Riley from his crib to a big boy bed.

Nola and Nopsi came over early Saturday morning to help with the project, and things went very smoothly thanks to the extra pairs of hands. Nopsi and Kenny took care of breaking down and moving all of the furniture into its respective new locations, while Nola and I did some organizing. And, once Riley spotted his daddy’s tools, he “helped” too.

 

Once Riley’s big boy bed was in place, Kenny put together the new bed rail and I set to work on making the bed up with the new bedding I got from Pottery Barn Kids at the end of last year. I didn’t let Riley see any of his new stuff, but I figured he would like it on account of all of the machines pictured on it. That kid is a sucker for anything with wheels.

We let Riley be a part of the disassembly process (during which he never really asked where in the world his crib was being moved to), but we decided to keep him out of his room once I started putting his new sheets, quilt, and pillows on his new bed. That way, I could make sure everything was in place and ready for his new room to be revealed to him. I took a little moment in the doorway before we let Riley come up and got a little misty when I realized my boy is growing up way too fast.

 

Nopsi was positioned inside the room by the window to get pictures of Riley coming in for the first time, and the faces he captured are priceless. Riley was so excited to see his new bed, which was such a relief for Kenny and me.

Kenny and I were really worried how Riley would react to his new bed, especially since he had developed such an attachment to his crib. He had taken to preferring to stay in his crib for a little while after he woke up in the mornings or from naps; he was obviously very much at home in there. So we were prepared for this transition not to go well at all, even though it had become necessary because of Sprout’s impending arrival.

 

However, we should never have doubted the adaptability of our firstborn boy.

He took his afternoon nap in his new big boy bed and did great. He didn’t even get out of the bed when he woke up, which he totally could have done. Instead, when I went in to get him, he said, “Wanna stay in your big boy bed?” Just like he used to do when he was in his crib.

 

Then later, when it was time to go night-night, I put the big boy to bed. I thought I would miss rocking with him in his chair (we decided to do a full-on switch and move everything into Sprout’s new room, including Riley’s glider), but it was actually quite sweet being able to lay down in his new bed next to him.

 

We read a couple of books and then I turned out the light and asked him if he wanted Mama to stay and lay next to him for a little while, which he did. With our faces really close together, we chatted for a bit and then, during a little lull, he unexpectedly leaned over and gave me a kiss. Talk about melt my heart. SO. SWEET.

Kenny and I didn’t hear a peep out of Riley until 7am the next morning. Our fears were unfounded, and we were so grateful for that. Riley was genuinely excited about his new bed and continues to be. We have had no issues in the four nights he’s been in the bed, so it would seem that the transition was a seamless one. Hallelujah.

Now if only potty training could go this well…..