Jail Time

I am coming to the realization that Cam's days in the crib are numbered. She's able to get a leg up and over, so I think we'd better transition to the big bed before she breaks her neck. I realize that since she's twenty-six months old, we've had it easy. But this is the parenting moment I most dread. When Po transitioned, we had to take shifts keeping watch outside his door. We had to threaten. We had to bribe. And eventually, we just switched the doorknob around so the lock was on the outside.

I really don't want to do that again, especially since they share a room and Po shouldn't have to be trapped. But I know there is NO WAY that girl is going to stay in her bed for anything. I could promise her a pony, and she'd be off and running, beating me out of the room.

I know you think I might be surprised. Oh, give her a chance. Don't label her a failure prematurely. You don't know Cam.

So I decided to seek the advice of an expert. Someone with a lot of recent experience on the subject. I consulted Po. "Po, I think Cam is getting ready for a big girl bed, just like your big boy bed. She'll be able to get in and out on her own, but I don't think she's going to want to stay in the bed. Remember when you had trouble doing that? Well, what do you think we could do to get her to stay in her bed?"

He thought and thought and was really putting in an effort to come up with a great solution. I was hopeful.

A look of inspiration came over his face. "I got it! We put bars around the bed!"

I wonder if a dog crate would work.