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I need a parental pep talk.
Ok, this whole toddler bed conversion sucks. Out of 4 days, we had 2 good nights and 2 bad nights. I don't know how to make this easier for her. She is such a stubborn kid. She is also exhausted from losing 1-2 hours of sleep at night because she's fighting it so much.
Also, 3 year old tantrums are no joke. I had to take away her tent last night because she wasn't listening and she screamed through her whole bath. She's been having tantrums at school too and I'm now getting nervous at pick up because I have no idea what kind of report I'm going to get.
I'm exhausted and terrified because how the hell am I going to handle a strong willed toddler and a newborn. I just put 1-2-3 Magic on request at the library. Hopefully it will help.
I'm feeling extreamly overwhelmed. I need someone to pat my head and tell me I can do this.
Have I mentioned how much I miss drinking? 
Re: I need a parental pep talk.
you can do this. it's only 4 (godawful) nights so far. i'll bet by 10 nights, you're aces. once she's sleeping better, she might be less of a hellbeast.
and you have 159 days before you have to handle a toddler and a newborn. you know toddlers are practically bipolar. she could be a sweet baby angel by then.
i really liked 1-2-3 magic and am getting cjoy's name tattooed on my arm to thank her for recommending it to me (all of us).
You can do this. -pat-
I do not have any kids, but I was a preschool teacher for two years, and in my experience something happens when kids turn three. They go completely insane for a while, and then when they hit four they usually go back to normal. It's the weirdest thing I've ever seen, but I watched it happen to almost every kid at the preschool.
I wish that I had advice for you, but we just worked through it with each kid and found which discipline worked best for them, and since I don't have any kids of my own I'm hesitant to offer advice because I don't want to sound like an idiot.
Good luck, though. She'll only stay three for so long!
I don't have any advice about the transition into a toddler bed, that was one of the only things that was easy for us. I just wanted to sympathize with you on the 3 year old thing. Everyone tells you about the terrible 2's and when you're living it you think it sucks. And then you get a 3 year old and you want to curl up in a ball and die.
If it makes you feel any better at all, the transition from one kid to two kids wasn't as bad as I thought. If I survive three kids, I'll let you know how that goes.
are you transitioning because you need the crib for the baby?
i'm a huge proponent of trying new stuff and if they resist the transition too strongly, to try again later. this has been our philosophy with weaning, sippy cups, potty training, big boy beds, etc.
if you think the toddler bed transition is causing all the other problems (because she's so exhausted), nobody said you have to do it now. you have tons of time!!
that being said, you can TOTALLY do this!! the good nights will get more frequent!
What do you have going on tomorrow? Anything big?
Here is what I would do, but my toddler is pretty much angelic, so take my advice with a grain of salt (I didn't make him that way, it just happened, I swear).
Tonight, sleeping in that bed is going to be the MOST FUN THING IN THE ENTIRE, ENTIRE WORLD. She is going to be so, so, so lucky that she gets to sleep in that bed tonight. She's going to have bubbles in her bath, wear her most favorite jammies, cuddle with her most favorite toy and read her most favorite book. She's going to be such a big girl with her little glass of water (in a sippy) next to her bed, her night light on, whatever she needs to think that she is so lucky and it is SO MUCH FUN in the big girl bed. You are going to read her stories, tuck her in, kiss her goodnight while mustering up the biggest smile you have. Nothing is going to stress you out tonight.
When you leave, you're going to put the baby gate across the door, and be done. She has everything she needs and the only thing that is going to make you show your face again in that room is blood.
I recognize I am not the baby whisperer, but its what I would try.
Thank you guys. I needed this, big time.
We thought it was a good time to transition. She's been talking for months about how she wants a "big girl bed" because "cribs are for babies". So we got her a bed for her birthday last weekend.
She does tend to fight any kind of change, but I don't like to go back unless absolutely necessary. I dont know why last night was so bad. The 2 nights before that were really good.
Her tantrums at home/school have been going on for a few weeks now. There is a boy in her class who is having major behavior problems and it's affecting everyone.
I just feel really beat down at times and you guys always make me feel better. I appreciate being able to vent to you all.
Also, I'm highly considering the gate. We bought a childproof door knob but she wants the door cracked now when she sleeps.
Yes 3 sucks. I mean I love my DD but man is she a pain sometimes. I can only sympathize as I don't have the answers yet as I'm going through it too.
We are struggling with obeyinig, and the fits that occur when she gets in trouble for not obeying. We try to repeat a lot what the consequences are if she doesn't obey a lot so she knows the expectations. It seems in the past 4 weeks to be getting better. But we still have our blow outs too.
Its tough man.
Get a gate. We have one for DS, and we don't even have to put it up anymore, we just lean it against the door frame. He can see the hallway (we leave the light on for him) and I think it just calms him more that he's not shut in there alone.
You got this!
Things we tried for KHC that worked:
1. Letting him pick out new sheets and new comforter and new pillow.
2. Letting him choose a scent to spray on his pillow (he chose my perfume, I think it comforts him, you might try this?).
3. At Target in the wallpaper-decal section they sell big glow-in-the-dark stars and moons and etc, and we put them all over his walls and they're super awesome, and also make him more likely to stay in his own room/bed.
4. Letting him keep the radio on low in his room when he goes to sleep.
Good luck! You've got this. It'll just take a few more days probably; some kids are more resistant to change than others.
Also, don't feel bad if you do the gate thing. We totally did the gate thing.
Updated September 2012.
Oh, and also we had a problem with him getting out of bed and coming into our room a ridiculously long time after he had been sleeping in his toddler bed. I promised him a super special surprise if he slept in his own bed all night. I went out and bought a new (hideous Lightning McQueen) sheet, blanket and pillow case for his bed. I made his bed up while he was in the bath and made a huge deal about the super special surprise for him.
He was so excited to have all that stuff that he's slept in his bed all night ever since. I spent probably $30, and I absolutely hate all of it, but he is obsessed with Lightning McQueen, so he loves it and stays the hell out of my bed, which is all that matters.
::jots down notes::
puddle, you broke her of her paci habit, yes? you can do this, mama! just keep pushing forward!
We got her all new beddign that she loves (Pooh) and she seems to really like being in the bed, she is just fighting the actual sleeping thing. She can hardly keep her eyes open but she keeps popping up.
We have her music, her nightlights, her bears and blankets she likes to cuddle with.
I think we will get the gate this weekend. And I think I will need to suck it up and let her cry it out if need be. I've been hesitant because I don't want her to look at the bed as a bad thing as she screaming in it. (Is that the stupidest train of thought ever?)
Most scents give me horrible migraines, but I might be able to find like a lavender oil that would work.
Thank you all so much for the suggestions!
Oh crap yes. Pacigate 2011. I didn't think I was going to make it through that one either. Thank you for the reminder. LOL
It's amazing! Your children will be absolute angels! You'll never raise your voice again!
You haven't met my kids, right? Lol.
Seriously though, we really like it. Somebody asked me "why do you need a book to learn how to count to three?" lol but there's a little more to it than that. Also, the author is really encouraging.
Thank you! I'll take all the help I can get right now.