RE: So, did anybody NOT use a bed rail?
Michelle, like you, we bought a new bed for Sarah when we got pregnant last summer. After I miscarried, we had the stinking toddler bed, so I decided to go ahead and transition her. Honestly, I am VERY glad we did. Its so much easier on me to have her be able to get in and out of the bed by herself and she now sleeps just as well as she ever did in the crib.
If I had to do it again, I would wait until a period of time when we planned to be home for a LONG time with no travel. We had her in the bed, then traveled, and then she refused to go back to it. We kind of went back and forth between the two beds for about 2 months (more travel involved....). If we had waited to do the transition until no travel was involved for at least a month or two, I think it would have gone much more smoothly.
HTH,
Beth, mom to older DD (8/01) and younger DD (10/06) and always missing Leah (4/22 - 5/1/05)