Why We Ditched Our Crib

bed or cribWhen I was pregnant, my husband and I did all the “normal” nesting things. I bought tiny clothes and lovingly washed them in Dreft. We took strollers for test spins around the baby aisle. We bought a beautiful crib that was the centerpiece of the nursery and purchased coordinated bedding. It never occurred to me that we wouldn’t use it.

We used a Moses basket that I loved until my (BIG) babies grew out of it, then we practiced bed sharing for a while. When it was time to reclaim our master bedroom and stretching time between night time nursings we tried a few different methods and strategies and nothing felt quite right. One night (around five months with my oldest) we gave up, put our guest room mattress on the floor and put him to sleep there. The days and weeks went on with this arrangement and something amazing happened – it worked for us. If he woke in the night I could pop in, do a little side-lying nursing, then head back to my room. Or fall asleep there. There aren’t any rules. It’s our family and we’re free to choose what works best in our home. Around eighteen months when my son could safely back feet first off of the couch, we bought a bed rail and put the queen mattress on its frame and box spring. A few months later the railing came off and we’ve never looked back.

I don’t consider myself a crunchy mom. I hate baby wearing, we don’t eat organic or only play with handmade wooden toys. I never expected to do something considered somewhat counter-cultural. Nothing I’d read dove into bed sharing or co-sleeping as legitimate options. I’d maybe known of a celebrity or two who embraced it. I didn’t realize that in most other cultures around the world eschewing the crib is “normal.” Here in the U.S. of A., at least among my friends, baby sleeps in bassinet before graduating to the crib in their own room. I mean, you bought the adorable crib sheets and matching crib skirt after all!

I know it sounds weird (and drives my mom crazy!) when I say my kids sleep on a mattress on the floor. But, it lets everyone in our house get the maximum amount and quality of sleep. It is gentle and comforting for baby as they learn to sleep alone. We’re very comfortable with our sleeping arrangements and progression, so we’ve repeated it again for baby number two.

A few months in, we discovered our early bed transition had another advantage. As our oldest son passed his second birthday my mom friends started talking about a new set of challenges. One friend had a climber who managed to fall out of his crib and break his arm. Another friend spent an hour every night persuading her preschooler to stay in his “big kid” bed and room. Another was dealing with the challenges of having a little one who’d been sleeping through the night with ease suddenly waking hourly after the bed transition. Normally not shy to weigh in with advice or to commiserate, I had nothing. I can count on one hand the number of times my son had gotten out of bed after being laid down for the night. Hooray – we’re skipping an unpleasant rite of passage!

{Lest you think that I have one of those mythical kids who is an always obedient, rule following angel, I must assure you that during wake hours he’s got the boundary testing, contrarian thing down pat. The only thing I can credit for his seamless transition to the big kid bed is that it was routine very early on.}

wmb_sleepingellis
I have so many pictures of my boys sleeping I feel like the digital age version of the creepy mom from “Love You Forever.”

Those of you out there who are happy with their current crib situation, that’s awesome. I know our arrangement isn’t for everyone. But, if you’re preparing for a little one or you’re not comfortable with your current sleep situation, know that there isn’t one right way to handle sleeping arrangements. Heed safe sleep practices, whether in a bed or a crib, and do what works best for your baby and your family.

Ginny Ellis
Ginny Ellis is a hometown girl who happily resides in East Wichita with her husband, two young sons, two rowdy dogs, and one spoiled tortoise. Together they enjoy taking part in all our city has to offer, especially if it involves being outdoors, supporting the arts, or is particularly delicious. She is a WAHM who serves as WMB's Events Director as well as holding volunteer positions in Junior League of Wichita, on her neighborhood elementary school's PTO Board, and for United Way of the Plains. Ginny is a podcast enthusiast, laundry folding procrastinator, and insatiable reader who loves the Shockers, theme parties, and her margaritas on the rocks.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Excited to hear this worked for you!! Can I ask what your baby does when he wakes up? Play in his room quietly or bang on the door until you come in? I would like to transition my 17-month son to a floor mattress soon and am having anxiety about this.

  2. My daughter is 3.5 now, but we ditched the crib around the same time you did. It was a great decision for us. She has been sleeping on a queen mattress ever since. I think we’ll do the same move with our next baby. I am glad to read a similar story.

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