big boy beds

I have been dreading this moment for the last three years, and now it's finally happened- we have put the boys into beds.  This is a big thing for me as I do not like change or anything that might lead to a change or break from routine.  To be honest I would have held off for a bit longer as they are happy in cots, they don't ever moan when put in them and up until a week ago, they have never (except once last summer) tried to climb out.  And even knowing that one could get out, I still felt that they were ok in them.  However, we are going away soon and the boys need to sleep together in a double bed and that, combined with potty training, has been the reason we've finally gone with it.

We've chosen little beds from Ikea which extend as your child grows and although at this late stage (some friend's children have been in beds since 18 months) we could have gone for proper single beds, we simply don't have room.  So our plan is to use these beds until they no longer fit the bedroom and then move into bunk beds.

We put them in their beds yesterday and I must say that it's not been completely horrendous- so far!!  Obviously, this is a HUGE deal for them and there is a massive novelty factor involved as they now have free rein of their room during the daytime (which they are never normally allowed).  Yesterday during naptime James sat in their room until they fell asleep, which took less than half an hour (normally a few minutes) and last night we only needed to go in a few times.  Today at naptime I went in after five minutes and yelled at them to lie down and within minutes one was fast asleep- the other followed swiftly once he realised that he had no playmate.  I just hope this continues for a while longer as I'm not yet ready to give up my afternoons!