Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Making A Big Girl Room (No Crib!)

Well, Clara has officially made the full transition from crib to bed. We never expected her to sleep in her crib for so long (we’ve been “at the ready” with a big girl bed for over a year now, since many of her friends started making the switch back then), but this girl just loves to surprise us and truly adored her crib. And we adored that she was sleeping soundly all night long (even after being potty trained, she was able to hold it ’til the morning). So we didn’t want to rock the boat for all of our sakes, and decided to trust our doc when he said “let sleeping kids lie – she’ll let you know when she’s ready.”

Crib Before 2

When she started taking “play naps” in her big girl bed, we took it as a sign that she was showing some interest. And then a few real naps followed the play naps, and then she wanted to try her big girl bed out during the night as well, and thus the transition began. Now she’s 100% in her big girl bed (and has been for the last month or so, which is why we’re finally confident enough to make mathematical statements like 100%).

Our biggest fear about the transition was that she’d use it as an opportunity to get up and play at night, or wake us up crazy early in the morning – but she has surprised us once again and has made the switch really smoothly. Except for a couple getting-up-to-put-another-stuffed-animal-in-her-bed incidents, she has slept through the night and through naps without issue. We’re thrilled and extremely relieved.

Big Girl Bed Reading

Half of me can’t believe that she was so happy to sleep in a crib for so long, and the other half of me can’t believe she’s now sleeping on a big twin sized mattress every night. How is she not still a tiny infant in my arms? You blink and they’re all grown up. No I’m not crying, there’s just dust in my eye.

The most exciting thing about this development is that we could finally move the crib out of her room. We waited about a month to do this since we didn’t want her to feel like it got ripped away from her the moment she was finished using it. And as we were moving it out, we told her how now it would make more room for fun things.

Crib Before5

So here’s the blank in-between look that the wall was sporting…

Empty Wall

… and here’s what it’s looking like now.

Dresser Birdcages2

I know, I know – we said “make more room for fun” and then we put a dresser there. But the wall where the dresser used to live… well, we’re working on a complete wall o’ fun for her there. Plus Clara was so excited for us to hang the birdcages from her playroom up above her dresser in its new spot (between the striped toy baskets, the moose lamp, the play table and chairs, the daybed, and the pile of art that we’re planning to hang, this room is turning into a nice mix of stuff from her nursery and her playroom).

It still feels a little sparse though, so I think we might layer in some more art or put something in the birdcages (piles of ribbons? Clara is obsessed with ribbons lately…) so this wall isn’t finished, but I think it’s inching in the right direction.

Dresser Birdcages3

As for how we hung the birdcages, we just used white plant hooks in the ceiling screwed into anchors to hold them nice and firmly up there. And when it comes to their placement, John just held them up and I stood back and said “there – no there! – ok, right there!” and we marked the spots on the ceiling, hung the hooks, and then adjusted the ribbon length on each one until we liked their hanging height.

Dresser Trying Birdcages

Of course, during the whole get-the-hooks-in-the-ceiling part of the objective, our little assistant was happy to play with the birdcages. At one point she even picked both of them up and breathlessly said “I love carrying birdcages around.” I’d have a picture of that for you, but we were both laughing so hard that we couldn’t see straight. But I did get this one slightly before that moment…

Clara Birdcage

Oh and this can be filed under “small details” but that bowl on the dresser full of blocks always bugged me because while the top of it was all glossy and red (it was originally just a white bowl from Ikea that I spray painted for a book project), the bottom was all splotchy and half-sprayed… which NEVER would have bothered me if it wasn’t visible, but since it has curved sides, you could clearly see the messy underbelly (scroll two pics up to see what I mean). So I finally did something I’ve been meaning to do forever, and painted the bottom a contrasting color.

Red Bowl Before

It only took me twenty minutes, and I have no idea why I waited so long. As for how I got ‘er done, I rubbed the bottom of the bowl with liquid deglosser, just to get it paint-ready. Then I used a small brush and a test pot of paint that we’ve had around forever (Embellished Blue by Behr) to coat the bottom of the bowl. The small brush and thin application got me through it without any drips onto the front, and after two coats and some drying time, it was ready to rock out on the dresser again.

Red Bowl After

Here’s that side of the room from the doorway now. Oh and see those hooks on the side of the dresser? Those used to hold the wet bags for our cloth diapers, but I strung up two ribbons to hold hair clips for Clara. She likes snapping them off and on, so it’s sort of like a fun new activity for her. Such a funny gal.

After From Door2

Speaking of funny, it’s funny how you can get so used to turning the corner and seeing this…

Crib Before 3

… and suddenly it’s not there anymore.

But the most exciting wall of the room is still in progress (you can see the corners of a few items that we’ve added to the mix on the right of this room shot). I still have a few things to paint/hang/drill, but we’re hoping to have that all done and photographed for you guys on Thursday.

After With Kitchen

Until then, I’d love to hear about other people’s crib-to-bed switching experiences. Were your kids super young and climbing out of the crib? Is Clara going to end up in the Guinness Book Of World Records for Longest Holdout? Is your son or daughter in a toddler bed, or did they make the switch straight to a twin sized mattress? It’s amazing how kids all move at different paces for things like walking, talking, and bed sleeping (Clara was a really early-talker, but had no interest in walking for a while – and certainly liked her crib more than most). I love that they all move at their own sweet little pace.

Psst- We’re chatting about baby names (and what the bun would have been named if he was a she) over on Young House Life.

Comments

  1. Quiana says

    My daughter is the same age as Clara and started climbing out of her crib at about 16 months and even on the lowest rung. We put her in the toddler bed around 18 months due to safety and decided to potty train at the same time to help her be able to get up at night to go to bed. We did have a lot of get up in the night incidents to return her to bed, but the combo of the toddler bed and PT worked well so that she could stay dry through the night in time for her 2nd birthday, but I also think CDing helped with that (we used your how-to post as a guide!).

    Reply

  2. Linda D says

    My two year old granddaughter made the switch earlier than Clara but in exactly the same way…she decided she wanted to sleep in the new bed. Their family just moved into a new house and my daughter found an Ikea loft bed but put a mattress in the top and in the bottom (actually on the floor) and she and her sister love the new beds and there has been no problem with getting up during the night. If Clara does start to have that issue, there is an “alarm clock” that has bunnies on the face. When the bunny is sleeping in bed, the girls are to stay in their bed; when the bunny is up and playing, they can then get up as well. The parent sets the time. It can also work as a regular alarm clock. Great little gadget!

    Reply

  3. Laurel says

    I don’t know for sure how old Clara is, but we have four kids and not one of them moved out of their crib until at least age four and a couple were five (with December birthdays so they hadn’t yet started kindergarten). They all loved their cribs and never climbed out. The transition went smoothly every time probably because they were so old and we could actually reason somewhat with them. I remember thinking that when they hit four or so that we needed to get them into a big bed because they would have a pre school friend over to play and when the kid went into their room, there was this crib. My kids didn’t think a thing about it, but I was embarassed for them! My kids are now 23 (tomorrow), 20, 17 and 14. They are well adjusted and successful so I don’t think staying in a crib until they practically entered school hindered them. My sister moved her son to a big bed at about age one and a half and had a heck of a time getting him to sleep all night and not get up a gazillion times.

    Reply

    • Tirsa says

      I’m so glad to hear my DS isn’t the only one! Our Friends would say things like “He’s STILL sleeping in a CRIB????” And we would answer with, “Oh yeah, He’s fine.” His little friends would look at the crib with bewilderment in their eyes. Ha, ha!

  4. corinne a. says

    We transitioned our first son to a toddler bed before he was 2, in preparation for the arrival of his brother. He did okay, but he was actually a little young – he went through a phase where he got out of bed every 20 seconds or less (NO EXAGGERATION) because he thought it was hilarious. I was 7 months pregnant at the time, and not amused. If we didn’t need the crib for #2, we’d have kept him in it longer!

    Reply

  5. Jennifer says

    Weird comment – so glad you told us the detail of the bowl! I noticed it and was going to comment and ask you about it, then kept reading. I rarely notice those little details that others seem to pick up on, but every time I’m in Ikea I see that bowl I want to get it, but don’t want it in silver
    (We don’t have the white version is Australia). Never thought to paint it! Thanks!

    Reply

  7. L says

    I’m curious about the crib. How has it held up over the past few years. Anything that you love or regret? I’ll be starting to look soon, so any feedback you have would be great! Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’re still very happy with it and are planning to use it for the bun, so if he sleeps in it as long as Clara it could possibly be in use for nearly seven straight years!

      xo
      s

  9. malibou says

    Ha, she is just a yungin’ for crib-to-bed transition. My son was 5.5 y/o. He just didn’t want to give it up. I finally convinced him to do it for his dad’s birthday. He started climbing out of his crib at about 11 months, so we put one of those tents on his crib. I think it made it all cozy and fort like, so he wasn’t going to budge. By the time we got him out, he was touching both ends. Lol He turns 13 in 2 weeks, seems fine.

    Reply

  10. anna says

    i love seeing how you’re using stuff from your old house in the new and the way it looks different. it’s amazing what the rug-switch does!

    both my girls were in proper beds by the time they were 2 – the younger was 19 months (she was a very big baby, and i could hardly lift her in and out, so i was rather happy when she went into a big bed!).

    Reply

  11. Felicia says

    Her room is looking great!! I know I’m not the only one who is excited to see that fourth wall (and eventually the nursery post).

    I don’t have my own children yet but I enjoy looking back on the stories of my own childhood. One year for Christmas my parents recorded a video for my aunt who lived far away. In the video my older sister explains in all seriousness how I was ONCE AGAIN keeping them all awake because I didn’t want to sleep in my crib. That video makes me smile every time I watch it. You can practically hear her three-year-old eyes rolling as she explains the situation. :)

    Best I can figure, that video is the only record of why/when my parents moved me into a toddler bed. They only ever told me two things about my sleeping as a child: 1) I slept through the night just fine. 2) I would often fall out of bed. Falling out of my toddler bed never woke me up though so they set out some pillows and would just have to find where I rolled off to in the morning.

    Come to think of it, I can remember falling out of bed well into my teen years. It never seemed to hurt anything though… just meant my older sister got the top bunk. :P

    Glad Clara doesn’t seem to have had any issues with her transition.

    Reply

  12. Susan says

    I *love* that you’re documenting Clara’s milestones — wish I’d done more of that. All three of my kids (now 21, 18, and 13) stayed in their cribs until at least 3 1/2. Two were well past 4 years old. I just let them groove and decide on their own! I’m waiting for the potty police to show up ‘cuz they were about that old before being really potty-trained, too!

    Reply

  13. Cathy says

    Hi! I am looking for a low-ish dresser to use as a changing table that can transition into “real” furniture. Where did you find the dresser pictured in this post?

    Thanks!
    Cathy

    Reply

  14. Amanda N says

    My daughter made the transition last summer (she’s 3, like Clara). We just tossed her mattress on the floor. For the first 4 months, she didn’t realize that she could get out of her bed on her own. When she would wake, she would sit up, call for us, and wait- on her mattress- until we came to get her out. It was amazing. Then, about a week before her little brother is born, she figured out she could get out of bed on her own and then everything fell apart. For about 2 weeks, she wouldn’t sleep, getting up in the middle of the night, refusing to go to bed. At the lowest point, my husband was assembling a baby gate at 2 am so we could gate her into her room; she cried for hours. It was a disaster- and we had a newborn on our hands! We had to use a combination of a sticker chart and this clock to get her back to her amazing sleep habits: http://www.americaninnovative.com/products/oktowake.php

    We still use this clock every day (and for naps); I highly recommend it.

    Reply

  15. Emily says

    We moved my oldest out of the crib when he was 17 months old because he slept in a big bed on vacation and loved it. So…I just assumed my daughter would be the same way. We moved her out of her crib at about 20 months and it was a total disaster!! She had always gone to sleep on her own and slept great, but she could not stay in the big bed. We ended up moving her back into her crib and buying a new crib for baby #3 who was on the way. She finally moved into the big bed when she was almost three. Different strokes for different folks (and kids):)

    Reply

  16. Karen W. says

    What an amazing room, and that pic of her, John and Burger cozied up together under the canopy looks so wonderful! Love, love!

    Do the birdcages open? ‘Cause I could TOTALLY see stuffed animals in there.

    Reply

  17. Laura B. says

    So funny to read different people’s stories. Children are all so different. I have five boys and all of them were climbing out of the crib before 18 months. Sooo, all of them learned to sleep on a twin mattress at guess when? 18 months! My best friend’s boy was the opposite. Go figure. Do what works and enjoy the differences. Have fun.

    Reply

  18. Amber says

    Isn’t it amazing how big and yet so little they look in the big bed?! My two monkeys each climbed out repeatedly before 18 months! So the transition happened for safety reasons–and the crib converted to a toddler bed…both kids had no issues! I think as long as sleep problems aren’t around, the move to a big bed is pretty easy?! Can’t wait to see baby bro!!!

    Reply

  19. jen says

    when our daughter was 20 months old, she climbed out of her crib and fell hard. she broke both bones in one arm, and ended up with surgery to fix it. it was HORRIBLE!After that I was too afraid of it happening again, so I just put a mattress on the floor until she got used to it. She seemed so little to not be in a crib. She also quickly figured out how to get out of her room, and would come into our room and just stand at the side of the bed staring at me or my husband, inches from our face until we woke up, totally freaked out that she was just standing their staring at us for who knows how long. The whole incident ruined sleep for us for a while.

    Reply

  20. Katie says

    We had our kids close together and our thriftiness (cheapskates??) in not wanting to buy a second cot to some degree dictated our kids moving to a bed. #1 moved to a bed at 16 months ahead of her sister arriving when she was 18 months old. Completely moved rooms and straight into a bed and she never batted an eyelid. In fact, despite happily climbing into the bed, she didn’t realise she could climb out herself until we moved house when she was 2.5. So she’d wake up and just sit there quietly until we came to get her!!

    Our plan with #2 was to move her at 2 years old ahead of #3 arriving at 2y4m. She had other plans though and started climbing out of the cot at 21 months, whilst wearing grobags. So we moved her early for her own safety. We had about 1 week where she hopped out once a night when first put down for the night, but we’d just guide her back and she would go to sleep.

    Both went into a proper sized beds. We didn’t bother with toddler beds as they are both tall so we figured it was a waste. #3 is now 13 months, very tall and moves a bit in her sleep so is starting to whack herself on the cot so I imagine her move will be in the next 6 months based purely on her comfort. She’s also a climber so I wouldn’t be surprised if climbing out happens soon too.

    Reply

  21. Sharon says

    Our oldest daughter is almost 4 and never climbed out of her crib. We moved her to a twin size bed when she was 2.5 (to free up the crib for baby #2). She did well with the adjustment, and initially didn’t get up to mess around in her room. Occasionally she does get out of bed when she is supposed to be sleeping, but the thing she does that really drives me crazy, is pull all her bedding off of the bed! Our almost one year old is a climber (her big Sis never climbed on anything!) so I’m wondering if she is going to climb out of her crib when she gets a bit older.

    Reply

  22. allie says

    our little guy turned 2 in October and is sleeping SO WELL in his crib, but he has a sibling coming in May and I’m dreading the switch to a big boy bed. but recently I was thinking of getting a mattress and letting him take “play naps” in it too – this might be my inspiration to make it happen. my other thought is… I kind of want to move his room to what is now the playroom and keep the nursery the nursery for #2 (it’s closer to our room). not sure how to switch the bed AND the room without totally freaking him out. maybe do the bed first and then the room a few months afterwards? any ideas/suggestions?

    Reply

  23. Cindy S. says

    Aww, I like the way Clara, and her room, are making progress. Sometimes they’ll need some guidance, but generally kids will progress to the next step on their own, within their own timetables, if they’re not picking up on too much stress from their parents. I like the way you been able to be laid back about the crib vs. bed issue, and let nature take its course. (Now, if Clara were still squeezing into the crib in junior high, there might be some cause for concern!)

    Reply

  25. Swarfel says

    So I wish at 26 I could have a room like Clara’s, that canopy rocks! But in a completely different note, I was wondering if you could maybe do a post about gallery framing! I really appreciated the one on tips for actually hanging the frames, but I’m feeling stuck about what to frame? What goes with what? What doesn’t work? Should it be only pictures? Why do my pictures seem so dark and small? Should I use more big or small? And I guess I don’t have much art art, so how does one begin to find pieces they like? The dilemmas go on and on… and on. I’d like mine to feel light and airy and clean, as I feel yours do. Any and all tips are much appreciated! :)

    Xoxo, Swarfel

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks for the post idea Swarfel! That would be fun! In general I love using all sorts of things (color photos, calendar pages, images from magazines, ticket stubs or photo strips, fortune cookie fortunes, black and white pictures, old letters, even an old handkerchief!). I just collect things as I see/find/come across them and try tossing them in frames to see how it all looks. In general a few larger pieces, some smaller ones, and many in the middle seems to work well. And then hanging them around 2″ apart is a good tip (not too far or they don’t relate and not any closer than that or they might feel cramped).

      xo
      s

  27. Ann says

    I love the fan! It is my favorite item. And I have been looking for something similar for about a year. May I ask where you found it?

    Reply

  28. Cynthia says

    Congrats on the smooth transition. I have two boys (6 and 3) and each had their own issues when it came to transitioning. The oldest was adamant about staying in a crib for as long as he could. The youngest could wait to be out and be just like his older brother. Currently our problem is the youngest refusing to go to bed and constantly coming out and sleeping super late. That and keeping his brother up with all this silliness.

    Reply

  29. billie says

    Any chance you know what kits of duplo blocks you have? I want to update our collection and the castle ones would be fun for our girl. Did you just get the basic castle one? Seems to be a good variety of blocks. Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We usually see them at Barnes & Noble and sometimes at Target or on amazon.com. She likes the castles so we have bought ones with pink turrets in the set (I think Cindarella and Ariel both had them? And we also got a generic castle one I think?). Just look for those round pink turrets on the box. Haha!

      xo
      s

  30. Justine says

    I LOVE Clara’s new full-time big-girl room! So pleased to hear that she made the transition to her new bed with no issues; the fact that it’s so gorgeous must have helped!
    Our little boy was 4 years and 3 months old when he finally came out of his cot bed (the side had been off for a while, but he was still sleeping in the same cotbed he’d been in since he was ten weeks old; did I shed a tear?!?) I was lucky enough to buy a lovely old wooden bed frame at an auction for just £22 (about $36), and he’s loved sleeping in it ever since. Don’t they just grow up too fast?

    Reply

  31. Shannon [Our Home Notebook] says

    So glad she loves her new bed so much and the transition was easy for you guys. Our little boy is almost ready for the switch too – he keeps trying to sleep in his big sister’s bed :) But we’re trying to wait until after Christmas before the transition.

    The new dresser area is so sweet. I love seeing those bird cages back up – love them in there so much!

    Reply

  32. Kate S. says

    As somewhat of a tomboy that has only boys and would have no idea what to do with a girl’s room, I am so enamored by this room. It really has that balance of a girl living there with timeless style. That dresser/lantern rug combo is especially wonderful.

    Reply

  33. malissa says

    That is great! I have a question for you about transitioning… I am due at the end of May and my little one will be about 20months. I won’t have the newborn in the crib right away anyways so I am wondering should I try to transition her after the baby comes or just suck it up and buy another crib??

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hmm, can you just wait to see how your older child is doing closer to when the baby will need the crib and decide then? Might be smart in case they’re ready to make the switch since you wouldn’t have bought the extra crib early just in case.

      xo
      s

  34. Sharon says

    We moved our eldest into her big girl bed before she was two. Her little sister was due to be born 6 weeks after her 2nd birthday and we wanted her well established in her big girl bed so she didn’t think this new baby “stole” her bed from her. The funny thing was she would wake up in her big girl bed and call us to come get her. She didn’t really realize the sides were gone and she could get out on her own.
    Now our 3rd was a boy and climber that boys are (you just wait – boys are sooooo different) he was climbing up over the side and falling out of his crib as soon as he was able to climb. He slept in his crib with the side down for a long time. We figured the shorter fall to the floor was safer than up over the top.

    Reply

  35. Leah McDonald says

    My boy/girl twins turned 4 yesterday and are still sleeping in their cribs. They go to sleep happily, sleep all night and call for Mommy when they are ready to get up…I think you always do what works best for you and your family. As soon as they want to move out of them, we will!

    Reply

  37. Larissa says

    I love how sweet and not-themey Clara’s room is. I’m not much of a nursery person which I think comes from us being in a one bedroom apartment when our first was born. And I guess I’m in the minority here, but we do the co-sleeping thing. I tried the crib with my now 2.5 year old boy, but he cried in a way that I just couldn’t handle. Didn’t even try a crib with my 1.5 year old girl. Everyone (including my husband and me) sleeps very soundly through the night and is happy with the arrangement. Now that we’re in a bigger house with plenty of bedrooms I’m setting the wheels in motion for a transition into their own room. Should be interesting.

    Reply

  38. Maude says

    Very pretty room! I love the raindrops! Can you give some details on the iPod station next to the moose lamp? Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s called an iHome dock and it plays music and white noise on a loop (we use that at night, and music during the day). I think they sell the on amazon.com and in places like HH Greg.

      xo
      s

  40. Pam says

    We worried and worried about roaming and were so surprised to hear “I’m up! come and get me!!” coming from his room after our 3 yr old son’s his first night in his big boy bed.It never occurred to him that he could get out of bed by himself! Now son #2 was a different story, he scaled the crib at 10 months to join us for evening television. Fun times- enjoy it all.

    Reply

  41. Jamie says

    Can I ask how exactly Clara stays in her own room. My daughter is going to go in her new room when she turns 3 in March. Do you leave the door open, use a night light, etc. Please let me know. Anything will
    help

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      She seems to sleep best in total darkness, so we have always had blackout shades and no nightlight. That might help her stay in her bed too (she can’t see where she’s walking if she were to get up and try to walk out). We also close the door to keep it dark in there, which she seems to prefer!

      xo
      s

  43. Shelley @ Green Eggs and Hamlet says

    I just love Clara’s room. Everything from the color palette to the rug to the curtains to the accessories. It’s just so darn fun and extra special that you guys did it yourselves (true to form).

    Love the red and blue contrast on the bowl, it’s a fun little surprise.

    Reply

  46. Amanda H. says

    My daughter was 4 when she transitioned out of her crib at my house (she was sleeping in a twin-size bed at Grandma’s and her dad’s house). She would actually climb out of her crib, go potty, then climb back in. She would climb in or out if she wanted different toys too.

    Reply

  47. ElleB says

    My son barely made it to 15 months–turns out he sleeps better (though still not very well) in a bed as opposed to a crib. My bestie’s daughter is still happily in her crib at 2 1/2–they borrowed ours for their second child because she has absolutely no interesting in switching to a bed.

    We made it work by using a floorbed/futon so there was no danger of falling out.

    Reply

  48. Kim a. says

    My son was 4 years (plus one month, technically :) when we made the switch much to his dismay. He love LOvEDhis crib and slept like a dream in there where he felt cozy and secure. He was sad for a week when we made the switch, unfortunately we had bought a convertible crib that we needed to make into his bed so we didn’t have a bed to let him acclimate to like you guys did and it seems like that was a wonderful way to ease in to the switch! But I was always happy to see you went with Clara’s lead and didn’t rush her to the next phase like so many people seem to do!

    Reply

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