We transitioned our 22 month old son into his toddler bed recently. Now, he will not stay in the bed. We have to chase him back for nap and bedtime. He even gets up during the middle of the night. Last night, we put a baby gate in front of his door but I feel strange doing that even though he has a monitor in his room. Any other ideas?
Thank you for your responses. Your encouragement has helped me feel a little more comfortable with the baby gate. He has never slept with us so all of this has been very confusing. Today, when I left his room at nap, I heard him get up and play. I went to the door and told him to go back to bed. He did and took a 2 hour nap. Yeah! Thanks so much!
I did the walking them back to bed and not talking to them but that was just so hard for me not to tell her it's ok when she's crying and scared. What i did was put a body pillow (to mimick me laying down with her) on the side of her and gradually moved it off the bed until she didn't sleep with it anymore and she stays in her bed.
Don't feel bad about the gate... at least you're keeping him safe. Keep bringing him back to his bed & limit your interaction when you do (no eye contact, brief or no talking). Toddlers sometimes needs LOTS of repetition to make something a habit.
Hi. My son did the same thing. It just takes time and consistency. Just keep putting him back to bed no matter how often he wakes up. Also, a bear, special blankie, or something to make him feel safe might help. Good luck, I know how tired you become after waking several times during the night.
My daughter moved herself at 18 months - she just wouldn't stay in the crib anymore. We actually transitioned to a twin bed, with a large rail on one side, and the bed pushed into a corner. I think she still felt the safety of being confined with sides around her, with the comfort of a regular mattress. It also did help that we moved her into the same room as her older brother. She didn't get up often, but when she did, we would either put her back to bed or lay down in her bed, rather than letting her get into our bed.
T.,
I wil let you in on the technique my husband and I used...This just kind of worked out this way because I had just had surgery and our son could NOT sleep with us anymore. (I was afraid he would kick or move around too much right after the surgery) Okay, we got the toddler bed and put it right next to our bed, (I would even hold my sons hand while we both went to sleep) next we moved the tod. bed against the wall, (in our room away from our bed) then we moved him to his room. Be patient this takes time. We did this for months BUT he was out of our bed and it worked. We never let our daughter sleep with us, but she was always in our room. (after the crib she was in her tod. bed....never close to our bed) They both sleep in their own rooms now and I love it! God has blessed you and he will continue to bless you and your family.
With my 22 month old, I started with naps in the big boy bed. I sat him down and made it perfectly clear what the rule was: do not leave the bed unless mommy or daddy come and get you, otherwise there are consequences (minus emergencies, of course!). I had a few books in his bed for him to read in the event he could not sleep. I also made a reward chart; he got to place a sticker on the chart when he got up from his nap. He really loved this. Since he knew what the rules were, I transitioned him to sleeping in his big boy bed at night time, too. Same rules apply at night as they do during the day. I do close his door and I have a gate outside his door in the event he wonders out. It's for his safety. I fear that somehow he would manage to get out of his room and, worse, outside of the house in the middle of the night without me knowing. Good luck!
Well, maybe this is just a sign that he's not ready for it yet. It could be just a matter of a couple of weeks or a month or so. Go back to your old nighttime/naptime situation for a bit, and just very gradually transition him to his toddler bed when you feel he might be ready.
Did you have him with you before? If so, try a mattress at the foot of your bed, and even sleep there with him a few times, or lay there with him till he falls asleep or soon before, as he's drifting off.
Whatever you do, don't force anything. Know that he needs your comfort and to feel secure about sleep. You'll get there! A little patience now will really pay off for everyone in the long term.
I got most of this from the Sears books. Of all the stuff I've read, theirs makes the most sense. They have a whole book called Nighttime Parenting. Might want to get more details by checking it out from your library. I'm sure they have all kinds of suggestions that can help you.
L.
i would probably wait a little longer on the boy...my son was closer to 3, but my daughter was on her 2 yr b-day. but most my friends' daughters are still in cribs at 3, so maybe he's just not ready yet. i can't imagine my 19 month old son being ready any time soon. i was thinking maybe this time next year!
We are thinking about switching to a toddler bed for my 20 month old, she's always slept with the door closed and I am trying to decide if that should change when we go to toddler bed. So I understand what you mean about the baby gate-what if he needs you and can't get to you...on the other hand, he's safer in him room than wandering around the dark house right! And with the baby monitor you'll be awake in a heartbeat if he calls for you. If his room is close to yours you might continue just take him back to his bed, I think that is better training than the baby gate. I still do that with my almost 4 year old from time to time!
When he does that take him by the hand without talking to him, put him in his bed, tuck him in gives kisses and walk out. You might have to do that a few times. My son done that when he was about your sons age and that is what I done. It worked for us. Good Luck!
T.,
Praise the Lord for His goodness to your family. My oldest daughter (now a 23 yr old mom of one and a godly woman!) was a tyrant at bedtime! She cried and called for us and got out of bed. We spanked her when she directly disobeyed us. We found that a bedtime routine where she got our undivided attention was a help. Pray with her, have a drink of water, hugs and kisses,etc. Then we would leave her, with a night light and a soft Christian lullaby tape playing in her room. Firm and loving reassurance from you and your husband,consistantly given, is necessary.If he knows that his persistance will get him in your room, he won't give up! There were times my husband and I would have to take turns with her at night, so that we would not get frazzled. Oh, is he in the same room as his older sibling? That may help, too. Do not give in on this issue or you will have a more difficult problem the older he gets. He may also be responding to the idea of a new baby. Reassure him of his special place in your hearts and what fun a new baby will be. H.
