Toddler Bed

I mentioned our learning experience about transitions from a crib to a toddler bed here, but there are also some other things about a toddler bed that changes how we do things...
Gradual is better. There were times when Micah would specifically ask for one bed or the other. The more time he was, the more often he would want the crib. It was comfortable for him. If he didn't ask, we would do toddler bed for naps and crib for bed. But we gradually adjusted that to where we were often doing crib for naps (he couldn't get out this way) and toddler bed at night. The gradual process helped greatly, until we were eventually doing all bed (except some time-outs or over-tired instances).
Another thing: It used to be pretty easy to send micah to his room for a "time out" in his crib. Just don't give him his pacifier and he knew he was in trouble. And we would generally leave him there until he calmed down (which sometimes meant he fell asleep). Easy enough...
But it's a little tougher to regulate when he can get out of his bed. The main difference is just taking him to his room and leaving him there. Not actually putting him in bed, so he at least realizes it is different than a nap. Often, when he calms down he finds a book and then gets in his bed to read quietly. Not all bad, just not quite as simple.
The other tough part is putting him down for naps and then often hearing him get in and out of the bed (we have all wood floors, making it very easy to hear what he is doing) most of the "nap." In a way, it is very good for him to have this "alone time" and it can often refresh him just as much as a nap will. Other times, I can tell that he really needed to sleep but he gets distracted. Mostly by books and clothes.

For some reason, he only empties out the middle two drawers of the dresser. Not the bottom ones that would seem easiest, but the middle one that would normally have the pajamas and shirts. The first two times I neatly folded them and put them all back. Then I realized this was his favorite nap time activity. So I stopped.

Sometimes it's all over the room. Sometimes it's all in his bed. Not sure if he sometimes naps with it all in the bed. I know he loves to have ALL the books in his bed...

Yep, there are blankets, shoes, books, clothes and a pillow in that bed. Looks like he kicked the dog out of bed this time. And there he is, right in the middle of it all when we go in to get him.
So far, just telling him that he cannot get out of bed doesn't really seem to work. At least not all the time. Maybe it works better when he is really tired and wants to sleep. Maybe the other times that he is asking for a nap it is really because he is tired of playing with me and he just wants to go to his room to play by himself! I'm okay with that...
So, there is some excitement about him moving to his big bed. There are also some challenges, but I'm sure there will be the ups and downs of many other situations we will eventually deal with.