So I have some questions I've been pondering and I thought maybe someone out there could help me ... if you don't mind... please :)
* I bought some used Harry Potter books today. Do you think Hallie (7 years-old) is too little for Harry Potter? Do you think it would be too confusing or too scary for a 7 year-old? What if I read them to her?
* Toddler bed or twin? Campbell is still in the crib but with the baby coming in November I'm thinking I need to get him out of the crib by February so the baby can have it. I'm just debating if I should get a toddler bed (anybody getting rid of theirs?) or go straight to the twin. With my girls I put them right into a twin bed but they were older. It would be nice to do a toddler bed because it wouldn't take up much room since they will be sharing a bedroom and I think Campbell would adjust to it better but I don't want to spend money on a bed that he will outgrow so quickly (the mattress is the same size as a crib mattress). Any opinions?
*Finally, how the heck do you discipline a 18month old crazy little boy? Seriously? Nothing is working, what do (or did) you do that works? Help!!! (I'm begging you on this one)
12 comments:
You need an opinion? I always have one. :)
I think HP books are awesome. I would warn her that it's scary tho'. If she gets freaked out easy, they might freak her out.
2- I have a crib sitting in storage if you want to borrow it so you'll have 2. you're welcome to it. Mattress and all. If the boys are sharing a room, you may not want Cam to have full access to the baby. I don't believe in toddler beds - just my opinion. But I think he's too small for a twin bed. I would keep him in a crib - at his age you would NEVER get him to stay in a toddler bed without huge discipline issues. In my opinion, it is way easier to transition them to a big bed when they're older and a little (?) more rational. I waited and my kids went in seamlessly.
My two cents.
Regarding Harry Potter - I think the first three books are not too scary. They seem to get more intense as they go on. The nice thing is that she's 7 now, and you can postpone reading to her (or having her read) the later books until she is older.
Here is what the Supernanny advises regarding toddlers. Check it out. You may find it helpful
1. Especially if you read them WITH her, I don't think there would be a problem until you get to #4.
2. I have done it both ways at Campbell's same age. If you do the twin, just have it against the wall with one of those side bar things...it has worked well for Aeden.
3. Hmmm...my experience says nothing "works"...it's just a matter of being consistant until they grow out of that stage. Consistancy is where I falter, so good luck with that :)
Nathan was reading HP books at age 7. I say read them with her. My step-mom Carrie was reading them to all of her boys once and got me hooked.
As for the bed issue- I say, Twin. If you do the toddler bed, you have to use the crib mattress (unless you just buy a bed with a mattress). Marshall started climbing up the back of the bunk beds when his crib was at the end of them. It was scary so I had to put him in a big boy bed. He still (at almost 4 yrs old) needs pillows all around his bed because he pushes his head into the corner. He needs that pressure. I personally think toddler beds are a waste of money because then you have to go get a bigger bed later anyway. That's just my opinion.
Discipline...weeeelll..that's tough. I will keep thinking about what we did. Marshall is STILL a crazy little boy. I can't remember how we handled it at 18 months. I'll get back to you on that one. I can tell you that we have 2 family rules. #1 is OBEY THE FIRST TMIE. #2 is BE KIND. If a child decides not to obey, you say "OH, what's rule #1? It is Obey the first time. (You can already have discussed this and make sure the kids understand what it means to obey the 1st time). Then you ask the child, "Are you choosing to Obey the 1st time, or are you choosing a time out?" Time out should be a minute for Campbell. Our time out place for Marshall is in his room now because it's the only place we can make him stay. I remember when he was about 18 mo. and he would scream at us or throw his food on purpose or something else very naughty. We strapped him in his booster chair (most of the time he was already in it), and put him in another room for his time out. He didn't get any attention for that period of time and his time out didn't start until he stopped screaming. When he did stop screaming, we would say Ok, now your time out can start.
I hope this helps. Marshall is STILL very crazy!!!! He flushed some Q-tips yesterday!!!!!!!!!! I swear, if this boy plugs the toilet up so that Brian has to take it off for the 4th time in a year, he will be in SO MUCH TROUBLE!!!!
HP...I had some 2nd graders read it themselves and a lot of parents that read it to them. If you read it with her you can talk to her about it as you go. You could read it at the same time and then discuss it after the chapter. That's also a good way to check to make sure she is comprehending what she is reading.
We took Jaxon from a crib to a twin mattress/boxsprings without the frame. It was close to the floor so if he did fall out it wasn't far. A year later we got him the frame. I couldn't justify buying a toddler bed when he wouldn't use it for long.
We follow suppernanny's time out policy for discipline. It's worked for us.
Good luck!
since she is 7 going on 8 it might be a great example of the force that satan has in the world. okay roll your eyes that me be streching it a little far.
and i would have to agree with marla on the toddler bed. i think they are a waste. borrow a second crib. and it would help him bond with the baby more...maybe. yea, and having access to the baby is a little worrisome.
as far as disicling...good luck. ask H.F. and wait til he turns 3. ugh!
I don't have any advise on the HP books. As far as the bed is concerned I would either get a spare crib or just move him to a twin bed, but he is still pretty young. We put a rail on Max's twin bed and a child proof lock on the inside of his door because we're mean, but I don't know if you want to lock him in there with the baby! ;) As for the disciplining, boys are HARD!! I keep hoping one of my sisters will have a boy so they will stop thinking that I'm just a bad parent. I think consistency is a big thing. I do time outs, but only for very serious stuff, like hitting, which until recently has big a major problem. What I think has really been the biggest help, though, is LOTS and LOTS of positive reinforcement for good behavior. This was a major mental shift because it is so easy to just point out the negative. Oh, and just be patient. In another year he will be a lot better because he will understand more.
I'd do a twin bed. Megan and Luke started sleeping in beds at 17 months-I put the mattress directly on the floor (no box springs etc) so if they fall, no big deal. I also used a lock on the door so they can't get out during naptime.
I read all of the HP books and loved them. But each one got a little more scary, violent, etc. than the one before, I was beginning to wonder if they were still children's books. I highly recomend the "Little House" series. They have been my favorites since I was in the 4th grade. When Caitlin was about Hallie's age (or a bit older) I bought a brand new set of the books and we read each one aloud together. Each one of us taking turns reading. As we finished each book we signed our names in the back and wrote the date of completion. It took just over 2 years to read them all. I hope one day Caitlin and her daughter will read the same books and add the new signatures and dates as well. We do have all of the HP DVD's if you are interested in watching them Jeff and Melissa could bring them when they come to Kentucky.
I would go for the twin size bed.
I agree that the HP books get to be quite violent and not-so-sure to be kid's books after book 3. However, Jace read them all when he was 7 yrs. old, and he really enjoyed them. We talked about what he was reading and about magic not being real, etc. Watch out for the Santa Clause/Easter Bunny question what with magic not being real!
I'm with Lesley on the HP series. I tried listening to the books on tape on a road trip once and I thought they were too dark for me. Go for the twin, unless of course you want our toddler bed...I will send it to you, after three kids it has never oncce been slept in ;) And as for the discipline I am probably not the best person to consult, but maybe Super Nanny ot the Sears series. Good luck!
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