Transition to Mats

[playfelt]

If child is over 30 lbs he should be out of the playpen. Most kids outgrow them lengthwise before they do weightwise. You might be surprised if you put them in the same space on mats and the noise machine on etc that it works for child 2 as well. Mostly it is a learning phase. Start by putting them to nap on the main floor or the playroom if you can so there is less of a danger for them to get into during naptime. Put the mattress from the playpen on the floor and beside the playpen and tell the child that since they are a big boy now they can learn to sleep on a mat at daycare instead of a baby playpen (gotta use the word baby). BUT if they aren't able to remember the rules then you will think they aren't big boys and they have to go back into the baby playpens. Then if child gets up, lay them back down, give them a few chances and then put mat back in playpen and child goes in. Tries again the next day. Gets a sticker for days he stays on mat on the floor.

All of mine that are 18-20 months and over or at least by age 2 sleep in the same space. The older ones on mats and the younger ones in their playpen as in it is moved from upstairs where the babies sleep to the big kid sleep space. So they are learning to sleep like the big kids. Once I see they seem to have the hang of laying down and going to sleep without issue we try the chance to use a mat instead of the playpen but it is put up just in case.