Training: Cot to Bed

You'll notice that we're trying to get as much training done as possible partly because gabe is at the stage of readiness and partly in anticipation of the arrival of #2. To complete the training of these areas would mean that we will face less protest in changing habits when he grows older, and hopefully that we'll have an easier time when #2 comes along. And since #2 is going to take over some of gabe's logistics, like the cot, it makes sense to transit gabe out of it, and make it available to his sibling.

We did some homework, checked out what some of our peers are doing, and settled on this Ikea bed. We made a few trips to Ikea, introduced gabe to his new bed there and told him we were going to buy that for him. With fingers crossed and hearts prepared for him not being able to settle into a proper night's sleep for a couple of months, we set the date for the transition four months prior to the arrival of his sibling.

To further ease him into the transition, other than the brain-washing we've attempted, we got him a big pillow and a new companion to add to the new piece of furniture. The pillow, so that he'll stop fighting with me for my very own baby pillow, which I hug to sleep, and Golden, a stuff doggie he fell in love with at first sight on one of those trips to Ikea.

The big day arrived and the bed was delivered and assembled. That very night, we put him to bed with the sole instruction that he was not to get out of bed on his own, and that he must call out for mummy or papa to help him if he needed to. He repeated the instructions to us voluntarily and lay stiffly in bed when derod put him down after our nightly routine. In fact, he seemed so conscious of himself that he hardly moved at all. We figured it's perhaps due to the lack of grills.

And guess what?! The first two nights are fuss-free, as though nothing has changed. We thank God tremendously for this miracle and pray that He will continue to extend His mercy towards us to ensure that every night will remain as smooth as these first two nights.