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As you have discovered, the girls are cranky and underslept for succumbing to the distraction…in your shoes, I’d eliminate it and try to get the family back into a sleeping routine again. (Plus add in extra tiredness from the physical challenge of the repeated crib exodus…they must be whipped!)

Typing this, I realize how many folks may read my suggestion in horror and respond, “That is like caging the babies!” Call it what you will, safety is the most important thing. Yes, 30 months is old enough to be a fairly effective climber, but there are far safer (not to mention more appropriately timed) environments and opportunities to perfect those developing gross motor skills. Take them to a soft-play, in-mall playground or kid-specific gym (like Romp N Roll or My Gym) during winter months, playgrounds in summer. Night and nap times are not playtime, and a crib is not constructed with intentional climbing in mind.

We actually even night potty trained our twins while they were still in the tented cribs. Why did we not move them to “big kid beds” so they could go on their own?

Safety first, always. We have stairs that a groggy toddler could mistake for the bathroom door, or accidentally plow through a baby gate placed there. We had them wake us, and we’d extract them and return them safely…all to get peaceful, unhampered by potential falling accident sleep afterward.

We did make the move to toddler beds when the kids were close to four. Many have made the transition earlier, we saw no pressing need to do so. As a matter of fact, numerous pediatricians heartily encourage keeping twins who sleep in the same room (the "team-up" factor) in cribs until at least 3-4 years of age…if not even a bit later. By waiting until ours we 3 ˝+, we were able to discuss with them the “earned privilege” of the big kid beds. We reminded them that they had learned to use the potty, they were so big and good at following rules/expectations; we knew they were ready to stay in their beds like grown-ups do all night long. We backed it up with a promise that if they proved we were wrong in our belief of maturity, and did not do a good job in the big kid beds, we’d reassemble the cribs. It was not an idle threat, we meant it. We did not donate our cribs until they had served as a visible reminder of that “motivation to do the right thing” in our upstairs hallway for many weeks. I am confident that stalling that move, while it made potty training at night a bit more laborious, and while the tents made the double sheet changing awkward, was the right decision for our family.

In 8 months when you make the move to the new home, your twins may be ready to make the leap (perhaps not the best word!) to toddler beds. They may not. You can think about that idea as the date approaches. For now, get the tents…to get your needed full-family sleeping hours and increased sense of safety back. I’d explain to the girls the exact reason you are doing it. They need their sleep. You as their parents need your sleep, or you are not able to take care of the things you need to do for the family. Most importantly, you love them, and they need to be safe. After all, now you know of a little girl who broke her arm because she was climbing out of her crib. For their well-being, (and yours) the tents are going on. They look like little airy, domed clubhouses. If they made ‘em in Queen-size, I’d be tempted! Our twosome LOVED their tents…it was like camping every night in their own room. Give it the “fun” spin, and they’ll likely feel the same.

In truth, I hope that is helpful for you. Rarely do I feel like a “soapbox” kind of person…there are many, many ways to approach each and every aspect of twin parenting.

This is just one of those instances where in hindsight; I wish we’d gotten the tents sooner!

FYI: Babies R Us will offer a 10% twin discount when you buy two new crib tents from them in-store. If you are a member of a multiples club, ask around. Someone may be in a place to sell a set of used tents at a more reasonable price. New, they run about $60 each. Worth their weight in co-pays and suffering we could have dodged!

Best of luck to you whatever you decide… hope the whole family gets some overdue sleep soon!