This can be a very difficult transition for parents of multiples, in that twins and triplets have the built in sleepover friend that will keep them awake much longer than a singleton. If one twin starts climbing out of the crib, chances are the other twin will at least give it a try. After they are in beds, it gets that much easier to get out and continue partying through the wee hours of the night. Whichever of the following methods you employ, stay on alert, because your toddlers are now on the loose, and it takes a good amount of work to stop them. Speaking from experience, I have seen bedding on the floor in a ball in less time than it takes a bull to throw a bad cowboy! Before you're halfway through your first DVR'd episode of your favorite show, twins can turn their room upside down beyond your imagination!

This is the time it becomes necessary to start toddler-proofing their room. Electrical outlets need to be securely covered, and now they even make protective covers for the ones being used-so they can't pull cords out. Heavy furniture in their room needs some evaluation; can they climb it? Can it be tipped over with teamwork? If so, cover the climbable parts, and consider tying the back to the wall with some sort of hook and wires. Is there a TV in your kids' room? You may want to consider mounting it (and the DVD/cable box) to the wall a little higher up so they can't reach anything. Doorknob covers are also wise on any room you don't want them to have access to-especially if they can lock themselves in. Gates are also a good idea-at least one to keep them on the same floor as you, and to keep them away from the stairs! If your twins are strong, you might consider the more stable locking ones near the stairs and a portable one that you can use while you are closely watching.

Some cribs convert into toddler beds and/or day beds, which is good because your toddler is still familiar with his/her surroundings while still graduating to the next level. Make sure to always set the mattress to the lowest level so that your child is as close to the floor as possible. If you don't have a convertible crib, it is very popular to place the crib mattress on the floor so that your toddler gets used to the "no rails" system.

Toddler beds are also a popular transition method. Toddler beds have both positives and negatives. For one thing, toddler beds offer the convenience of using your crib mattresses (and the sheets), so there are no additional purchases. They also usually come with side rails on both sides, and are a lot less expensive than regular twin beds. One negative that I found was that the support system is relative to the price, and if you have bed jumpers, or if they decide to sleep together for a while, those support slats will give way pretty quickly. After a while, you either need to buy more support slats (if the jumping hasn't caused the slats to ruin their support holes), or scrap the beds for new ones.

One other option is to purchase a regular twin or full bed, depending on your needs. A regular bed takes care of several needs. Having an extra bed a can be quite convenient when company arrives, and the costs of the toddler bed step can be avoided. If possible, you can push the bed against the wall, and use a regular bed rail on the other side (the kind that inserts in between the mattress and box spring). The negatives are obvious in that a regular bed would be higher, but some families leave the mattress and box spring on the floor until the children are big enough to maneuver in and out of a regular bed by themselves.

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