We have recently transitioned out 19 month old into a toddler bed. For the most part he sleeps in the bed very well and has been going down at night OK. But, when he was in the crib he would normally sleep in to 7 or 7:30 am and lately has been getting up around 6:15-6:30. How do i get him to stay in his bed and go back to sleep until closer to 7?
Also, nap time has been a nightmare. He just doesn't want to go down for a nap in his new bed. i have saddly a couple of times, just shut the door and let him cry for 10-15 minutes until he finds his way to the bed and falls asleep. but how can i make the transition easier? it seems that he has decided that nap time is optional...and i just can't take a toddler not napping or only napping for 30 minutes a day anymore.
We switched our son to a twin bed at about 2.5 and we still did naptime in the crib for a few more months. At the time I was pregnant and napped when he did and it worked fine since the crib was still in our room. It was always difficult to get him to nap in the bed and he mostly stopped napping at 3 and a few months. I hope you have better luck.
Is there a reason why you put him in a toddler bed? Does he try to climb out of the crib? Are you trying to use the crib for the baby on the way?
In my opinion you should let him stay in his crib for as long as possible. My son is about to turn 3 and he's still in his crib.
I converted my son's bed to a toddler bed just to try it out and had the same problem as you. The worst is the waking up super early that cuts into my tiny mommy time hehe.
There is no way to make him stay in the bed. But if you put a gate in his doorway and childproof his room you can confine him to there. Also, is he fighting you at both naps or just the morning one. My kids were this age when they went down to one nap a day. So, just keep the afternoon one and see if that makes a difference.
my opinion, you are doing everything that you are able to. good for you. mother of 15 yr and 10 yrs old girls
Why is it so important that he sleep and extra 1/2 hour in the morning? Kids are always changing and its best to stick to fights that you can actually win. So give up on making him stay in his bed longer than he wishes in the morning. As for a nap, he definetly needs more than 30 minutes. My son is 20 months (still in his crib) and he didn't nap yesterday and he was really acting out. So I hear you! Can you stay with him until he falls asleep? I know the closing the door thing is very traumatic for you and him and you just did it out of frustration. He is probably not 100 percent tired and maybe needs a later nap or a winding down routine. Also, stay with him and keep playing to a very minimum. I think that may help.
Maybe it was too early for the toddler bed!! Just keep doing what you are doing. Nap time is not optional at this age... 10 or 15 minutes of crying will not harm him. He will begin to get used to his new routine if you are consistant with him. He is just noticing his new freedom of being able to move out of bed on his own!
