Category Archives: bed

Bed Time Bottle

I love reading articles about parenting. A lot of them have tons of great information on how to reach different milestones, teach your kids to do stuff, etc. Some I like to read because they reinforce my own parenting practices, and make me feel like I am doing it right. Because who doesn’t want to feel like an awesome parent?
There is one topic in particular which has come up numerous times in a lot of magazines and online sites that makes me feel just the opposite. Especially because I know I am doing something wrong, I am well aware of what I should be doing, but I am doing nothing to stop.
I let my daughter take her milk and juice to bed. Apparently, according to numerous parenting gurus and pediatricians, this is a huge no-no, which leads to all sorts of problems, including cavities and horrible dental hygiene. Considering my own dental history you would think this is huge for me. I have suffered greatly at the hands of dentists and would surely not want my daughter to go through the same. But I can’t take her sippy cup away from her. She screams bloody murder, and won’t go to sleep. Which  makes me feel bad because I am basically allowing my daughter to ruin her teeth just because it is easier for me to let her have her milk and juice in bed with her. Yeah, I suck. Which is why it bugs me. I should be more firm, say no, and weather it out for a few nights until she gets used to the idea. And at one point I tried, but she wasn’t getting used to it, and I was getting very tired. It is bad enough Ducky doesn’t sleep very well, and two screaming kids was just too much. So, I thought “another day.” Except is has been many more days, and months, since then, and I am not doing anything about it. Some kids like to cuddle with their blankets. Others like to snuggle with stuffed animals. My daughter clutches a sippy cup in each hand to fall asleep.
The worst part is not just that I know what I should do, but I also know how to do it. I have read more essays and articles on this topic than I can count. I have methods, and tactics, but for some reason, when it comes to this, I have no discipline. Thankfully I won’t have to worry about this with Ducky for a few more months.
What do you think?

8 Tips For Buying Kids’ Beds

We have recently had to purchase a bed for our children. Actually, we only needed to purchase a bed for Munchie so Ducky would inherit the larger crib. We ended up getting bunk beds, so when Ducky will be ready for a big boy bed we will be all set.
Bed shopping was a lot more difficult than you would think. I had no idea what we were getting into. Yet we not only ended up with an awesome bed, but we learned a lot in the process.
1.       Skip the toddler bed. You will only be using it for a small amount of time, and then you will need another bed. Spring straight for the big girl/boy bed (a twin or bigger), and your little one can use it all the way until they go off to college (I ended up having the same bed for almost twenty years with only a mattress change, and I am hoping for the same for my kids).
2.       Price is important, but not everything. Keep in mind, a sturdy bed along with a sturdy mattress is an investment. You child can have this bed for a very long time. The better the quality, the longer it can be used, which translates into money saved in the long run.
3.       Pink beds, car beds, Barbie beds, whatever, are all very cute. How cute will they be when your kid is a teenager? If you really feel the need to make it cutesy, buy some decorative/themed bed linens.
4.       If you have multiple small children, a bunk bed might be the way to go. It can be a space saver, and a money saver. A bunk bed will usually cost less than two individual beds.
5.       When purchasing a bunk bed get the kind that can be taken apart and configured into two individual beds. This will give you more options, especially once the kids get older and may end up in two different rooms (regardless of gender).
6.       Bunkee Boards are not optional. They are sold as optional pieces when buying a bunk bed, but they are essential in making sure your bed does not break. Most bunk beds are laid out on slats. These slats are meant to support the mattress and hold the bed together. However, if your child bounces on the bed or throws themselves onto the bed, the slats will break. And that will cost you more than the original bunkee board. If the place where you purchase your bed does not offer them (which is very odd), most mattress stores will carry them.
7.       Just like the bed, the mattress is an investment. This does not mean you want to get your kid a temperpedic, but don’t just buy the cheapest they offer. A few extra dollars can extend the life of your mattress several years.
8.       If you think your kid may not be ready for a big bed because you fear they will fall out while sleeping, you can get some guard rails to mount on the side of the bed. They are fairly inexpensive, and completely secure.