Well, Clara has officially completed the transition from crib to bed. We never expected her to stay in her crib for so long — we had a big-girl bed ready for more than a year, since many of her friends switched early — but she truly adored her crib. We loved that she slept through the night consistently, even after potty training, and our pediatrician was right when he advised, “let sleeping kids lie — she’ll tell you when she’s ready.”
Her interest began with a few “play naps” in the new bed, which we took as a sign. Those turned into real naps and eventually into sleeping there overnight. The transition wasn’t instant, but over the past month she’s been 100% in her twin bed, which is why we finally feel comfortable saying that with certainty.
Our biggest worry was that the switch would invite night-time wandering or early wake-ups, but she has surprised us again by adapting smoothly. Aside from a couple of brief trips back to tuck an extra stuffed animal in, she’s been sleeping through the night and resting well during naps. We’re very relieved.
It’s surprising and a little bittersweet — half of me still remembers her as a tiny infant, and the other half is amazed she’s now comfortable on a twin mattress every night. Time flies; one moment they’re small in your arms, the next they’re sleeping independently. No, I’m not crying; there’s just dust in my eye.
One of the practical benefits of the change is that we finally moved the crib out of her room. We waited about a month after she started sleeping in the bed to remove it so she wouldn’t feel like it was taken away too soon. While we were moving it, we told her that clearing out the crib would create space for new, fun things in her room.
The empty spot on the wall looked a little bare at first, but it’s already coming together. We added a dresser in the space and have plans to build a “wall o’ fun” on the wall where the dresser used to sit. Clara was excited about hanging birdcages from above the dresser — they now live between striped toy baskets, a moose lamp, a play table and chairs, a daybed, and a pile of art we plan to hang. The room is shaping into a balanced mix of nursery pieces and playroom favorites.
It still feels a bit sparse, so we’ll likely layer in more art and maybe add something in the birdcages — perhaps ribbons, since Clara is currently obsessed with them. The wall isn’t finished, but it’s moving in the right direction.
To hang the birdcages we used white plant hooks screwed into ceiling anchors for a secure hold. For placement, John held the cages while I stepped back and gave the final placement directions — “there, no there, right there!” — and then we marked the spots, installed the hooks, and adjusted the ribbon lengths until each cage hung at the right height.
While we were installing the hooks, our little helper happily played with the birdcages. At one point she carried both and breathlessly declared, “I love carrying birdcages around.” We were laughing so hard I didn’t capture that exact moment with a photo, but I did snap a shot just before she ran off with them.
One small detail we fixed was a bowl on the dresser that held wooden blocks. It bothered me because the glossy red painted top looked fine, but the underside was splotchy and half-sprayed. Since the bowl’s curved sides revealed the messy underside, I finally painted the bottom a contrasting color to make it look finished.
The touch-up only took about twenty minutes. I prepped the bottom with liquid deglosser, then used a small brush and a leftover test pot of paint (Embellished Blue by Behr) to apply two thin coats. The thin brush and careful application prevented any drips on the visible side, and after drying it looked sharp back on the dresser.
From the doorway the room already feels cozier. You’ll notice two ribbons tied to hooks on the side of the dresser — those used to hold wet bags for cloth diapers in the past, but now they’re a place for Clara’s hair clips. She likes snapping them on and off, so it’s become a little activity station for her. She’s such a funny little girl.
It’s odd how you get used to seeing something in a space, and then one day it’s not there anymore. The most exciting wall — the one we’re transforming into a full feature — is still in progress. We’ve added a few elements already, and I still have a few things to paint, hang, and drill. We hope to have that finished and photographed for you soon.
Until then, I’d love to hear about your crib-to-bed transitions. Did your child switch early because they were climbing out, or did they stay in the crib longer like Clara? Did you move to a toddler bed first or go straight to a twin mattress? Every child moves at their own pace with milestones like walking, talking, and sleeping through the night. Clara talked early but took her time with walking and clearly loved her crib — and that’s perfectly fine. I appreciate that each kid finds their own rhythm.
Psst — we’re chatting about baby names (and what the bun would have been named if he were a she) over on Young House Life.