Beds

[Dara Webman]

Has anyone made the switch to a big girl / big boy bed? Andi still loves her crib but has started asking for a bed! Anyone have wisdom or experiences to share? Did you get a toddler bed or real twin size bed? Where is the best place to look for this?
Thanks guys!!
Dara

[Michelle Neuringer]

We converted Zoe's crib into a toddler bed maybe 4 or 5 months ago, after seeing how much Zoe loved climbing in and out of Eve's bed!  The transition was super easy because Zoe was ready for it (as opposed to using the potty, which she has no interest in whatsoever).  We put a tumbling mat under the bed at first, in case she fell out (which she did a couple times in the first week).  She loves putting herself to sleep in her "big girl bed".

We're planning to upgrade to a twin when we move into our new place.

Dara

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[Jessica Fischer]

We haven't crossed that bring yet- I'm already sleep deprived:)

[Jessica Sperling]

As Michelle referenced, we did that this past April.  Eve wasn't asking for it, but I wanted there to be a decent lag time between when Eve left the crib and when they new baby (aka Liddy) took it over, to help avoid any potential sibling issues.  I was worried about the transition, but it actually went much better than expected.  I talked it up a bunch, and Eve got really excited.  For the first few days, she wanted to hang out in it during the day, but then wanted the crib at night.  But after a few days, I talked her in to trying the bed at night, and it's been that way ever since.  

We did a toddler bed, since the space is tight and I was looking to conserve space in any way possible.  I probably would have done a twin otherwise, but the toddler bed is totally fine.  My mom got it for Eve as a gift (which I think made it all the more exciting for Eve), and I'm not sure where she got it, but I think just babies r us or somewhere like that.

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Jessica Sperling
917.797.4678
jessica....@gmail.com

[Michelle Neuringer]

Ikea has some fun toddler beds!  We couldn't pull Zoe away from the toddler bed section - she wanted to sleep in all of them, like goldilocks :)

[Megan Marsh]

We have not switched yet. Maxwell had recently become a good sleeper as of age 2, so with all the transitions going on (new baby, new house, working on potty training.... Slowly) we didn't want to add another thing to the mix and mess things up.  He loves his crib so we ended up getting a new one for the baby. And we will convert his to a toddler bed at some point. I have a friend who had her twin boys in cribs well past age 3! 

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[Kathy Byfield]

Jess, does Eve still nap? This is my biggest fear with switching... We have Owen in a mini-crib and Emmet still in his big crib, but with Owen being the big boy that he is, I assume we'll have to swap him into the big crib at some point! Our plan is to move Emmet into a twin (mine from childhood) and switch Owen to the full-size crib. But I'm scared he'll stop napping.

I'm planning on giving full-on potty training a go around Thanksgiving maybe.. we'll see! He's got a lot of new things going on right now too. In addition to speech and preschool, he started Occupational therapy this week, which he'll get twice a week. Emm's got some sensory issues we're just learning about... Have you guys heard of this? I hadn't up until recently. It's all been a bit overwhelming, but I'm hopeful the OT will help us; the past year+ has been pretty rough, and we've just chalked it up to him being a bit on the wild side/new sibling etc... but it seems much of his impulsivity, sound sensitivity, etc. may be something else. Of course our biggest concern is autism, but his teachers and all four therapists who evaluated him (it's been quite a process) are rather certain he's not. We're in a good school district and all the services are free, so we feel pretty lucky. The gym he goes to has a lot of balls and a trampoline etc., so I'm hoping we can just treat it as something fun to do twice a week. From all the research I've done, it seems like OT really helps these kids. We're hopeful :)

Kathy

[Jessica Sperling]

Kathy- yes, generally naps have remained, with of course a few exceptions.  But she is also a kid who's generally pretty willing to go down for a nap (though at day care she apparently lies down but then stays awake - weird). So, it may be different for kids who are more nap-resistant.

That's tough about Emmett- I can only imagine how difficult this has been!! But it's great that you're starting to get answers, at least. And it sounds like the OT can totally be presented as fun time :) 

While we're in question mode...

Anyone have any advice for increasing milk supply, besides things the internet tends to suggest (mothers milk tea, etc)?  I can produce enough for Liddy when she's directly breastfeeding, but I'm back at work and just can't get enough milk through pumping. I get maybe 1/2-1/3 of what she would eat in a day, and that's after pumping 3 times during the workday (and there's no way I can fit an another pumping session). Thoughts?

I will also take any and all advice in potty-training! We started in May based in her interest, and it seemed like we were progressing - but Eve then started to majorly resist, and we stopped. She is still totally unwilling at home, even though she'll use the potty (albeit not always, and with prompting) at day care. I've tried everything- talking to her about why she first want up, rewards for peeing, etc- but none of it seems to help. She'll be 3 in just two months now, so I feel like this just needs to happen soon.

[Michelle Neuringer]

Jess, what time of day are you pumping?  When I pumped at work, I'd get most of my milk in the morning   (around 10:30am) and even though I pumped once or twice more I could never get nearly as much at those times.  I also pumped directly before or after feeding Zoe at home in the morning (fed from one side, pumped the other).

I drank milk tea as well, but I don't think that ever really made a difference.  It was mostly an excuse to have a sweet drink (I used lots of honey).

Hope that helps!

[Kristin Ahern]

Kathy-

I've had lots of kids in my K and first grade classes with sensory issues or sensory processing disorder. Most of them received OT /ST through early intervention and then preschool. By the time they got to me at almost 5, they had so many strategies and "tools" in place to help them succeed! OTs in schools are great and there are so many kids out there (without autism) who just have to figure out how the world looks/ works for them. Last year, the brightest kid in my class took movement breaks every 20 mins and was on a "sensory diet". He was only 5 and was able to tell me whenever something bothered him (sometimes the sound of a peer cutting paper etc) and we'd come up with a plan. As long as they get support, it won't interfere with academics or social relationships. I could write/ talk about this forever so email me if you want :)

Beds/ potty

We haven't made the switch to a big bed yet! I'm scared. Ev potty trained fairly easily 4 months ago (bribery all the way). We did candy for pp and poopy prizes from the dollar store. He was obsessed w popping for the prizes. We stayed home and he was naked for 3 days- only focused on potty. Warning the week he potty trained was the week he gave up napping!! We have s travel potty that is super easy use too.

Thanks for all the bf support! And loved seeing pics!! Nice to read all the emails again!

Kristin

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[Kristin Ahern]

I pumped in the AM after Ev ate. I would get more in that pump session than I would pumping 2x at work. I imagine this might be tricky with 2 kids in the AM. I would pump 15-20 mins (the first couple times not much but then body made LOTS this time of day). I also did it on sat and sun mornings after his first feed to add to stash for the week and signal my body to over produce in AM. 

Kristin 

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[Kathy Byfield]

Kristin,

Thank you so much for the email... this makes me feel so much better. I was actually just talking about 'strategies' with his preschool teacher this morning. I'm hoping his therapist can give us some tips too- Tim and I were talking about maybe buying one of those mini-trampolines for the house, especially with colder weather approaching. Yep, Emmet gets very upset by leaf blowers, lawn-mowers (even when we're in the house) and he can hear the street-cleaner coming a mile away (literally). I tell him he has Spiderman powers :) I may email you separately and pick your brain a little more, especially about the diet stuff... but I know you're busy with little Thatcher! Hope nursing is getting a little easier-

Thanks for the encouragement, all :) I'll keep you updated with our progress. As for potty-training, we're going to try the 3-day method at some point. I think I have a PDF of it, if anyone's interested.

k

[Megan Marsh]

Kathy (and anyone else dealing with sensory/developmental issues),

Feel free to email/call me with any questions as well.... I see tons of kids on and off the spectrum with sensory issues (I usually see them at age 5 and up). Early intervention is KEY!! You are on the right track for sure!!!

Keep up the awesome work and I think it's great to keep the dialogue going about these things because it is so tough to know what is "typical" boy/toddler behavior and what warrants further attention.  It's so helpful to hear others' experiences. 

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[Kathy Byfield]

Thanks Megan! I'm going to email you and Kristen off-list with a few more questions.

And I couldn't agree more. We feel so lucky that his teachers (and the Early Intervention/CPSE therapists) caught this and are qualifying him for services. We had no idea about any of it. I'm excited to get the ball rolling, and help my little man :)