I had intended to let Bethany continue sleeping in a crib until she learned how to climb over the rail. I just didn’t think she’d do it before she hit 2 1/2. I mean, the girl didn’t decide to walk until she was 15 months old. Was expecting her to be content to learn to climb slowly too much to ask? Apparently so. Recently, Bethany became part monkey. I watched with horror (and a little pride) as she started climbing ladders at the park and scaling furniture at home without the slightest bit of fear.

Then it happened. It went something like this:

OK. So the first time involved a big thunk and a few tears of surprise. Luckily Bethany didn’t hurt herself. Unfortunately, instead of using her experience as a lesson to stay in bed, she accepted the challenge and figured out how to climb out without falling.

So we had to move her to a big-girl bed. We went to the mattress store and then to Target for new bedding, where she found a big blanket exactly like the small crib blankets she’s used since she was a baby. I didn’t even notice them on the shelf, but I had to stop because she called out, “Hey! My blanket!” from the cart. The result was pure excitement about having a big-girl bed.

Bethany is very proud to be a big girl who sleeps in a big-girl bed! She loves the freedom of being able to get in and out of bed whenever she wants. She was Boomerang Bethany the first night. We had to put her back into bed about 8 times. Finally, I realized that I had forgotten to plug in the nightlight after rearranging the furniture in her room. She went to sleep after I turned it on. Most nights since then she goes to sleep with no problems. Quiet times, however, are another story. We’re still working on those, but we are proud of our big girl.