Help 18 Month Old in Toddler Bed up 4 or More Times per Night

I have two young children and have been through this at various stages in their development.
I think you are doing the right thing. I would tell my kids it is night time and you need to go to sleep, put them in bed and leave the room. Keep it short. And as difficult as it may be, if this continues you may just have to let her cry it out. Knowing that you are not coming may break the cycle. I had to do that with my oldest. It isn't easy but it works.
Good luck, hang in there. I know what you are going through and it will pass.

I am a mother of three, and I used the toddler bed with my first for about 6 months of misery, and then I figured out that the toddler bed is basically a crib, low to the floor, with no sides, providing basically a license to easily get out of it....ALL NIGHT LONG. It dawned on me after 6 months of the toddler bed, that a regular twin bed with rails would be cozier and more difficult to get out of. He slept through the night the first night in the regular bed, and we've never looked back. With my second we went straight to the twin with side rails, and it worked like a charm. We plan to do the same with our baby when it's his turn to move out of the crib. The toddler bed was donated to the local consignment shop. Some people love them, but I think they just beg to be gotten out of, since that concept is such a novelty after being "locked" in a crib for two years.

I know this doesn't help with your major concern but it is a tip I thought I would share. When my son went to a toddler bed we bought a special night light ( he choose the character) and put it on a timer. He was told that he had to be in his bed when the light was on. If he woke up and the light was still on he needed to stay in bed. If he needed something he could call to me and I would come to him but he was not to get out of his bed. Sometimes I would just "it isn't morning yet. Lay down and go back to sleep honey." I can change the hours of the timer if I need to so it goes on at 8:00pm and off at 6:30am. I used to turn it on manually for naps. This really worked for us. Just a thought.

just keep doing that. it gets worse before it gets better. sleep is something you won't have for at least another year....sorry! (i have 4 kids under 6, all who are good sleepers -but it took work! i'm still working on the same thing with my 7 month old...)

Hello S.
I don't know if I can give you any suport,do you give a snack before bedtime maybe she's hungry and can't sleep try that, give her a toast or some crackers and milk,
GOOD LUCK

Hi S.,
I feel your pain. I have six children, and one on the way, and we have certainly had our share of sleep issues. Our lifesaver was Dr. Marc Weissbluth's "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." I was just reading tonight about the very thing you are talking about, since our 4-year-old is doing something similar, and our 2-year-old is all of a sudden crying when we put him to bed. You are on the right track with your approach, but with some kids it takes a little more even. I would highly recommend this book. It walks you step by step through this and many more sleep issues, and has worked for us every time. We've gone to it again and again, and will likely wear it out by the time all our kids are grown.:) Good luck!

I haven't slept through the night in 4 years, so I understand your pain. LOL.

For all intents and purposes, 18 months old is still a very young baby.

I HIGHLY recommend, "The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers". (Elizabeth Pantley) It's a very gentle approach to the 'sleep through the night' problem with no cruel tactics like crying it out.

What I used to do is at this age is read a story in her bed with her, make sure she has a cuddly animal to hug. I use to tell my daughter that her dolly or teddy missed her and she needed to hurry back to hug her. In time it will stop, patients is the key. Your doing the right things, it just takes time. And make her nap time yours as well! good luck! And make her dad get up once in a while.....it wont hurt him.

S.. i ting your child might be sleep walking. you have to be carefull . good thing you wake up and hear her. my daughter at one time walket out the front door. and one other time she thought she could fly. and was near the window. i dont want to scare you. she might be dreaming and walks to the door . check it out with you doctor . ty
B.