This post is brought to you by Dorel Home Products and Acorn Influence. All opinions are my own.
The time has finally come- Zac got a big boy bed! He’s been so excited since we told him the time was coming and he was asking every day when it would arrive. It finally came a couple of weeks ago and as soon as it arrived he couldn’t wait to open it and check it out!
We are partnering with Dorel Home Products and we received the Mainstays Twin Mattress. It was completely hassle-free- instead of having to figure out how to get a giant mattress home with two kids in the backseat, or paying for expensive delivery, we were able to have it shipped to our house neatly rolled up! {If you’d prefer, you can also pick up the mattress at Walmart!}
While I knew it was going to come rolled up, I didn’t realize just how thin it would be when we opened it! I was worried that it would take several days to expand, however it quickly expanded as soon as we opened it- so quickly, in fact, that we didn’t even have all of the packaging off before it had risen several inches! Zac thought it was like magic and I have to admit, it was really fun to watch! It takes about 48 hours to fully expand, but it already appeared full just minutes after opening.
The first night that the mattress was here, we didn’t even have the bed frame yet- so the boys decided to have a slumber party on the mattress on the floor!
A few days later when the bed finally came, he was so excited and even asked to go to bed in the middle of the afternoon! Of course, it didn’t last long- but it did make for a cute picture!
Since this is our second time switching to a big boy bed, we’ve picked up a few tips on how to make it a smooth transition. If you’re in the process of switching to a big kid bed, be sure to try these tips:
1. Get them involved in the process. Letting your child know about the upcoming transition before it happens gives them time to adjust without it being a sudden and shocking change. Let them see the mattress when it’s delivered or have them go with you to pick it up, and let them watch as you assemble the bed in their room.
2. Make the bed “theirs”. The major selling point on the transition for Zac was that he could pick out whatever sheets he wanted. We even let him pick which pillow to use! He was able to make it feel like his own by choosing his favorite things.
3. If possible, let them pick the actual bed frame, too. Zac’s crib converted to a toddler bed and then a real bed, so we didn’t give him this choice. However, when we switched Shane he went to the furniture store with us and he had so much fun “trying out” each one of the beds! He loved being able to pick out his bed and he was excited for it to arrive instead of scared of the change.
4. Let them bring a friend- or seven. One of the things that made both of my kids more excited was that they could suddenly sleep with as many stuffed animals as they wanted! Zac could only fit a few before but his new bed fits a whole bunch of his favorite stuffed animals, so he spent the afternoon deciding which stuffed animals made the cut.
5. Make sure the bed is super comfy! Kids can be really sensitive to something being uncomfortable- I know my kids are- so we had to make sure they had a comfy mattress to sleep on! Zac couldn’t be more thrilled with his new mattress and to be honest, I’m a little jealous that it’s more comfortable than mine!
If you’re looking for a great new mattress, for your kids, your guest room, or even yourself, be sure to check out the Mainstays mattresses from Walmart! They are truly very comfortable and don’t break the bank. You should be replacing your mattress every 10 years so if your time is coming, be sure to check it out!