HELP - How to Get Toddler to Stay in Toddler Bed

Updated on November 13, 2009
C.K. asks from Plainfield, IL
6 answers

Hey moms, I'm in desperate need of your help. Two nights ago, we converted my 22-month-old's crib into a toddler bed, so she can get in and out at will. When I put her to bed, all goes well. She snuggles in and goes right to sleep. The problem is at 3am, she gets out of bed and comes into our room. Last night, I took her back to her bed 6 times, even sleeping in there with her for 30 min, all to no avail. Every time I'd leave, she'd be back in our room within 10 minutes. By 5:00 (after neither of us had really slept for the last 2 hours), she ended up sleeping in our bed.

(One note: before we converted her crib, she never slept in our bed with us. Not even when she was an infant.)

My husbads suggestion was just to close the door to her room and let her "cry it out" again like we did when she was younger. That seems really harsh to me.

Do you ladies have any suggestions? Is "cry it out" the best solution? I work full time and am 11 weeks pregnant with #2, so I'm really struggling without a good night's sleep. Thanks!

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So What Happened?

So we're only 4 nights in, but as it turned out it was fortunate that on night 3, she resisted going to bed. So I was able to try different things at 7:30 when I was alert instead of 3am when I'm desperate. Anyway, for about an hour, I tried just putting her back into her bed. This became a big game to her. She'd run out of the room, I'd put her in bed and she'd giggle & repeat. After that, I put a baby gate up by her door. I tried staying with her (inside her room then outside), but she still wouldn't go to bed. Finally, I tried "cry it out" with the baby gate. So I put up the gate & got out of sight. She cried for 6 minutes and then was quiet. I peeked awhile later and she was sleeping in her bed! She woke up another few times that night, but in every case a hug, a kiss & just leaving got her back to sleep within 10 minutes. Tonight there were no tears at bedtime. The gate is up, but it's already becoming "normal" for her.

So thanks for the advice! It's amazing to me how much parenting is just trial & error to figure out what works for your kid.

More Answers

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T.D.

answers from Chicago on

This happened to my then 2.5-yr old when we moved her from her crib to prepare for our new baby's arrival. the ONLY thing that works is consistent returning her to her bed. No conversation, just walk her back and put her in her bed. Dont sleep there, just walk her back and leave. Every time. I spent about 5 nights doing this - And I was pregnant at the same time too. It was a total drag but she will eventually get it and stop getting up.

Good luck... this too shall pass.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.D.

answers from Springfield on

THANK YOU for this question. We are having the same issues with our 2 1/2 yr old. Well, guess what is going up tonight? The baby gate!

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M.C.

answers from Chicago on

I would not close HER door but I would definitely close YOUR door. Closing a child into a room at this age can be scary and may terrify her. I would put a gate to the entry of her room and just let her figure it out. Close your door so you can't hear her, assuming nothing is in her room that can harm her (tipping over book shelves, exposed outlets, etc) and then let her cry it out. I would completely not suggest to just keep getting out of bed and putting her back into her own bed and that she will eventually just "get" it. It won't happen. You will be awoken every single day for God knows how long. She needs to figure this out on her own and eventually she will wear you out and you will give in to her sleeping in your bed just for the sake of being able to sleep again. I promise you, putting a gate on the door will work. She will get upset but after realizing she's getting no response, no attention from you, she will return to her bed all on her own.

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R.K.

answers from Peoria on

We just transistioned are 2 year old about two weeks ago. The first night was rough but she got it after the second night! We do not close the doors accept for our oldest (to keep the cats out- they wake her up!) but we did the same thing with our 2 year old as the other child- we put a baby gate on her door. That's it! She can still see out of her door and yell if need be- but we just tell her to go back to bed and lay down. She can't get out- she's safe in her room and she can't climb in bed with us. Good luck- just as the other ladies suggested- you have to be consistant. But those baby gates really are life (or sleep!) savers! :o)

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A.F.

answers from Detroit on

All too familiar, we had that problem with our now 38 month old. We had to get a safety rail (gate) and put that up in her doorway. What it boils down to is consistancy, you and your husband have to constantly just put her back down and not bend at all. Do not start just giving in because you'll be stuck with an 8yo in your bed. It's just an adjustment, she should come around within a few weeks to a month (as you stay consistant).

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S.E.

answers from Chicago on

Have you tried putting a gate up so she can not get out of her room?

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