HELP Advice for My Sister Who Can NOT Get Her 2Yr to Sleep in Her "Big Girl" Bed

T.
If you can find some ideas on this one I could use them too!!!! I had to take my 2 year old from her crib for the same reason, only she landed on her head and in the hospital! I know how scary it is. Unfortunately for me she never went to her toddler bed and she shares a room with her older sister. My baby is 4 now and she still has to sleep with someone. In fact she stays with my mom in her bed. I have tried everything. She wakes up if she feels you get out of bed. I don't know what to do, and it is starting to cause problems.

I don't know if this will help but we have a "family bed" that we all share! We love it and wouldn't change a thing!! Maybe their daughter needs a little extra comfort in the night! Good Luck to your sister

T.,
When will people realize you cannot FORCE someone to go to sleep? It should not be a matter of punishment, nor a matter of making her cry herself to sleep. When was the last time you LIKED crying yourself to sleep?

First, it needs to be examined WHY she doesn't like her bed. Maybe it is not as soft as the crib, or she feels like she will fall out, or she is all alone.

Is there some way to make her bed more fun? Have they established a bedtime routine? They need to be kind and considerate of the little girl.

Read http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070100.asp for all kinds of sleep solutions that are positive.

Best wishes,
K.

I agree with the first post if she gets out of bed, take something away. What also may help is shutting her door. If the child opens the door get a knob protector so she cant. If toys in the room are an isuue take them out. Put them in boxes somewhere and every night she stays in bed give one back the next day. She will figure it out soon. Dont cave in though. The reason she screams so long is because she knows she can and get away with it. As long as the child is safe put on headphones and listen to music or something.
Good luck
S.

Why are THEY up till 4am? I suggest letting the child wear her self out on her own. Go to bed - keep a monitor on if you have to, but if your close enough to the room, then just go. Lock her in her room with a gate and let her know it's bedtime. She is staying up all night playing with her parents - who wouldn't want that, lol? If they are taken out of the equation, she'll probably get bored quick and fall asleep. Even if it takes a few nights for her to realize they are not going to stay in there with her - she'll get it, and she'll sleep. Good luck :)

Hi,
I am going through the same thing right now with my 2 year old. This has been working... She has something special that she loves and we only give it to her when she is in her bed. If she gets out of bed, we take it away. That usually works to get her back in bed. We do have to go in and put her back to bed many times. Last night it ended around midnight! No fun, but we are making progress. Also, when we go back in we are all business; put her in bed, quick kiss and walk back out. Don't make a big fuss. And I try not to talk at all. It takes patience but it is working. Good luck to sis.

ditch the toddler bed and go to a twin with a baby rail.
My toddler kept falling out of the toddler bed and would end up on the floor anyway.

What I have read and heard that works is that you have to leave them in their room, and no matter what, don't take them into your room. It usually takes at least 3 days of this before the kid realizes that they aren't going to win, and they give up and go to sleep in their own bed without a problem. I have also heard (more for babies, but it would probably work here as well) that you if you stay in the room, you should keep moving closer and closer to the door every night until you are sitting outside the door. The gate is a good idea, or she could use a childproof door handle on the inside so she could still shut the door. She could try lullaby music, or a nightlight as well.

Definitely do not do the co-sleeping because she will get used to it, and it will be even harder to get her out of her parent's room, plus it is not good for the parent's relationship either. Having your own bed in your own bedroom is not punishment, and sleeping in your own bed is something everyone has to learn. Better now than at 4 or 5 or older.

we had the same problem with my 3 year old. My suggestion would be to leave the gate up tell your sister if she gets out of bed CALMLY put her back (don't say anything) and walk out of the room then sit outside the door on the otherside of the gate she may have to do this for a couple nights but she'll get the idea. The only other thing I can suggest is investing in one of those crib canopys that you zip up there like a bug netting material. then she can't jump out. Hope this helps!