Transitioning Twins from the Crib

There is a certain peace that comes when your twins are finally asleep at the end of a long day. The house is quiet, and for a few hours at least, you can let your guard down. Your super-energized sweeties are sleeping, safe in their cribs. Parenting multiples is hard work and nothing compares to the relief that everyone has made it through another day. But then one day, your peace is shattered as one (or both) of your previously slumbering darlings strolls right out of their rooms. And you realize that THEY. CAN. CLIMB. OUT. OF. THEIR. CRIBS.  You put them back into their beds and hope it is just a fluke. You can try to delay the inevitable. But you know, deep in your heart of hearts, that the countdown to a big bed is on. I remember this faithful day well. There is not a one size fits all method. But here are a few things to consider when transitioning twins from cribs to big beds!

One at a Time vs All or Nothing
I have found that with my twins, they adjust to changes better together. They were both showing signs of readiness, so since they shared a bedroom, I found it easiest to transition everyone at the same time. However, if your multiples have their own rooms, or one still seems perfectly happy in their crib, you may want to introduce the new bed one-at-a-time.

Toddler Bed vs Twin/ Full Bed
On the way to a “Big Kid Bed,” we did make a stop at the toddler bed. I don’t think this is a necessity, but if your crib converts to a toddler bed, it is worth a try. It saves you from buying two new beds at the same time. Also if your child is a wild sleeper, a toddler bed is a great choice in case they roll out of bed.

One Room vs Two Rooms
My twins were sharing a room in their cribs, so they continued to share when they moved to toddler beds. I didn’t want to add another big change. But having two unfettered toddlers in one room all night is not for the faint of heart! Your twins might do best in their own room if space allows. You may also find that your twins are fine overnight together, but may need to nap in separate spaces. 

Keeping Them in Their Rooms
I adopted the philosophy that once their crib was gone, their room became the crib. Meaning I wanted to keep them in their room all night until I came to get them in the morning. This of course is a process that can take many nights to achieve. My twins were not potty training at the time, so they didn’t need access to the bathroom. I made sure their bedroom was as safe as possible. This included removing any small toys, anchoring all heavy furniture to the walls, and putting a lock on the closet door. I set the expectation that after lights out, they would stay in their bed and call for me if they needed anything. Then came the job of enforcing that expectation, which looked an awful lot like me sitting outside of their bedroom door waiting for them to come out, so I could calmly walk them back to their beds...over and over again. Depending on your child’s temperament, this process could take a while. But I promise that eventually, they will stay in their beds.

While this particular transition can seem stressful, especially when you began to mess with well-established sleep patterns, I guarantee that eventually, you will find that peaceful feeling again...at least until it’s time to start potty training!