peg@linus.UUCP (Margaret E. Craft) (07/24/84)
Crib to bed: I'm making the same decision - my first child will be two when the second arrives - I will either move her to a bed, or put the new one in a port-a-crib for as long as is needed. More responses would help me get an idea of problems and solutions. She likes to go to sleep, and isn't waking up during the night. Of course, a new baby may change all that... And what about jealousies if I move her from "her" crib when the new one outgrows the port-a-crib? That would probably happen when the oldest is about 2 1/2 or 3... And what about the mattress on the floor versus one on a frame? And single or double? Potty training: One clue that helped me - have as many potties as are needed to be sure one is always handy. For me that was just two - one in play room downstairs, and one in her room upstairs. Unless your bathrooms are very large and are also handy, don't make that the location... The child will want books and'or toys for quite a while before getting used to the idea of on-and-off-quickly... The other thing that seems to be the only "universal" aid is other kids who are already there. My daughter is daytime-trained now, only because the 2 1/2 year old at her sitter's was trained, and not much bigger than her, so she was really into imitating him. I'm sure luck played a role also, but I find myself sort of hoping that the next one has a just-enough-older child to imitate too!
pking@uiucuxc.UUCP (07/26/84)
#R:linus:-104000:uiucuxc:31400005:000:1741 uiucuxc!pking Jul 26 14:58:00 1984 As far as jealousies when moving one child from the crib to make way for a new baby for the crib, we found that a good way was to impress on the child how wonderful the new bed was (even though it was only an inexpensive second hand bed), how grown up he (in our case) was. We also explained that the crib was going to be needed for a baby brother/sister. It's great if you can combine moving to a bed with purchasing new furniture, but most people I know couldn't afford this, (myself included) so I settled for purchasing new sheets (child oriented, strawberry shortcake, care bears, return of the jedi, etc.) this helped make the transition easier, since the child knows they are especially his/hers. New sheets and blankets are usually cheaper than new furniture and most childern like getting presents, even if they are functional rather than toys. My only comment about keeping a small baby in a port-a-crib is that it is my experience they are not terribly sturdy and will an older child possibly shaking it or trying to climb in with a new baby, you might find it safer to moved the older child --- I also think the resentment from the older child about being moved from "his/her" crib would be greater AFTER the birth of the other child, rather than before. Before, I doubt the child would really be totally aware of what having a baby in the house really means-- until after the baby is acutally there on a day to day basis and begins to take up more of mom and dad's time then he/she is used to, etc. After the birth of the second child, the first might feel more negelected and the like and therefore resent being taken from his crib to make way for the new one, and your problems might double-- hope this helps.