Parenting Fail - Making Transitions too Early

Sometimes... you just do it wrong. Happens to all of us. 

Recently, N & I tried to put M into a toddler bed. (WHAT?! She's not even 2? No shit. I know how old my kid is. Thanks)

Our thoughts behind this - 
1. She sleeps on a mat at school and does just fine
2. At home, when she's tired, she gets her blanket and lays down on the dog bed.
3. She LOVES to be in her bed.
4. She's super independent  (her new favorite phrase is "Don't help me" (dun-heb-me!)

We thought if we gave her the freedom to get in and out of bed, she'd be able to go lay down when she was tired. Since she was used to the freedom, it wouldn't be an issue.

We started this on a Sunday (fail #1). 

Sunday (Day #1)
Nap - No issues 

At bedtime, we laid her down, she passed out, no problems, didn't wake up until 5:30am when she pooped. (I could have an entire post about her sleep-ending poops).

Monday morning - N & I are tired because we didn't sleep. Expecting her to wake up all night long when in reality, she slept GREAT. We thought maybe we did this right. MAYBE she was ready for it.

First Night Success!

Monday  - (Day #2)
M was home with me because she had pink eye. 

Nap - No issues. After nap she even got out and played by herself quietly-

That night, she crashed at 5:45 because she'd been up since 5:30. She woke up at 8:00 and was up until 11.  At 11, after more diaper issues, and turning off her new night light (aka the Christmas candle in the window) - she finally went to bed.

Tuesday (Day #3)
Home again - napped in her bed after I persuaded her to stay in there and sat next to the bed until she was settled. 

Bedtime - passed out at 7:15 and slept until 6:30. No issues. Not once did she even wake up, let alone get out of bed.

Wednesday (#4) The night from hell.
M went down at 7:15 just like normal, with a little bit of me sitting on the floor next to her until she was ready.  then. it began.

Midnight - she's awake.
We put her back in bed at least 10,000 times.
We found her in her closet. 
We found her when we tried to open her door and she was sitting behind it with all her blankets.
At one point, I found her in the living room playing with her baby dolls ."Oh Hi" she says. Like she's surprised to see me in the pitch black space at 1:30am. 
Back in bed and how do I find her later? Playing soccer in her crib.

2:45am I told N - get your tools. We're putting the rail back up.

3am - Crib rail is back & M is passed out

630am - M is up with another sleep ending poop.

We're ALL exhausted. As you can tell by the kitchen nap below.

Moral of the story - BABY JAIL IS YOUR FRIEND. Marin will be in hers until she's 12. Or later.

2nd moral of the story - Just because she does it at daycare doesn't mean she can/will do it at home.

3rd moral of the story - Don't rush them into the big kid things. Enjoy them being little.

So we rushed it. She wasn't ready and couldn't follow the rules. She's back in jail and I'm not too proud to say we did it wrong. It wasn't the first time & it surely won't be the last.