Making Room in the Nest

Last week I posted about Lilah leaving the nest. This weekend she quite literally left her nest, a.k.a. her crib. I originally thought I would not have to make this transition until Septemberish. However, we are going away for a week in August, and rather than shlep the pack 'n play and risk her not sleeping well in it anyways, I decided to have her be adjusted to a bed by then. Even though I knew this was the logical choice, I really dreaded moving her into a bed. For me, the crib to bed transition was the worst transition to date in the history of me being a parent. We had a horrible week or so of transitioning Sophie at night, and then I spent a good month or more napping with her every single day. It really took a toll on me. I decided to take things slow with Lilah. For starters, instead of moving Lilah to a completely new bedroom as we had done with Sophie, we were able to just put a bed in her existing room. We began rocking, reading, etc. on her bed at nap time and bedtime instead of in the glider. Each time I would ask her if she wanted to sleep in her bed. Once or twice she said yes, but then changed her mind. Mostly, she said no and I put her straight into the crib. I didn't push it at all. I wanted it to be her choice (I mentally gave her an end of July deadline). Plus, putting her in a crib was easier for me. I could just put her in a crib and walk away. Even if it took her a long time to fall asleep, or she never ended up falling asleep at all, she was safely contained. I could GET STUFF DONE (my eternal quest in life). But, lo and behold, Friday night when Shimmy put her to bed she agreed to sleep in her bed. And she only came out twice during the night. Since she had a successful night we decided this was it- no turning back. Saturday afternoon she didn't want to nap in the bed, so I offered to nap with her. I napped, she did not. I kept her in the bed for an hour and then called it quits. Saturday night she went to sleep with no problems and stayed in bed until 6:00am, at which point I got in bed with her and we went back to sleep until 8:30am. Sunday afternoon we took the crib apart and reassembled it in the baby's room. Lilah napped, but only because Shimmy stayed with her the whole time. Sunday night she slept all night until 7:00am! This afternoon she napped without me! So far this has been a pretty successful transition- certainly easier than it was with Sophie! PHEW! Moving the crib was the first step of many in my nesting for Baby #3. YAY- I LOVE THE NESTING PART!!!


Lilah's new bed!


The crib, relocated, with the mattress adorably in the highest position. Pay no attention to anything but the crib. While it is in what will be the baby's room, it isn't in its permanent location and nothing in the room has been decorated for the baby. Yet. Stay tuned!