Okay, I need help. My son is two (27 months) and has just transitioned into a big boy bed- which he said he was ready. HE did great for about a month. The past two weeks he seems to be trying every bit of patience (and sleep) we have. We go over the rules (WE stay in bed, and we don't get out) but he still gets out of bed. He doesn't seem to want anything. At first we tried helping him understand that this was not allowed, but we got really frustrated after alost two hours. Finally, a friend suggested I put the pack n'play in his room and put him in it if he couldn't follow the rules. I finally did last night, but he still was awake for another hour. Not to mention in his mother's morning out he is not wanting to follow the routine. IS this something I am supposed to push through during an independence streak, or do I be more sensitive to whatever is going on with him?
So, thanks for the advice from all the great mothers. Some of them were awesome advice that I will use in the future because they might have been a little advanced for my son. This is what happened. I moved him back in to the pack n play- soon to be crib, and he is sleeping great again. I think he wanted to be ready, but still wasn't secure in it enough, or mature enough to understand the rules. I got this advice from many mothers who found that a short time later, their children were ready, and just needed a time
Patience, Patience, Patience.... Two year olds are testing their limits constantly... they need you to be consistant, yet loving. Be sensitive, explain why things are the way that they are, but be consistant... I highly recommend the book, "What to expect- The Toddler Years" - It's part of the "What to expect when you are expecting" series.... Good Luck!
You have a couple of options. Some ofthe books I have read suggest lying or sitting next to his bed (but not in the bed with him) and then gradually move closer to the door every night until you are outside his room.
My dgt will be 3 next month. We juswt moved her to a toddler bed in the past month. The first time we tried it, it was a disaster. She would not stay in her bed long enough to even go to sleep. After about a week and a half, I told her if she got out of her bed again that we would put her crib back together...and we did. She had been back in the baby bed a couple of weeks when we went on vacation. She slept in the bed with me on the trip and did great. When we got back home, we put her toddler bed back and she has stayed there since. Good luck.
It is definatley him testing. We got to the point with our son, that we put a baby gate up at his door, made sure his room was safe and the monitor on, and would just let him stay up for about 30 minutes or so by himself. He usually gets bored and goes to bed. And if the crying starts we let him cry it out like when he was a baby for about 15 minutes at the most and then we will go up and try again. It seems to be working for us. He really does not give us a problem anymore, because he knows what to expect if he trys to test us.
Transitioning is by far one of the hardest missions to accomplish. You are right to stand firm. He is testing the boundaries. My son tried the same thing. I had to stay with him for a while until he felt comfortable and read or sang to him at first. I made it HIS time. We transitioned into bedtime. It was part of his routine. Now he may get a little fussy but when he sees that I am not running into the room because I know he is fine, he drifts off to sleep.
L. S.
How long is his afternoon nap? If he's in a daycare find out when nap is over, then call 5 min after that and ask to speak to him. Make sure he's not sleeping too long.
my night time fun time I know time is limited but how about you and him making a special pillow just for him at night? You could put your handprints and his handprints on it and get him excited about sleeping on it that night. tell him with your handprints it means you're right there with him. Also if you can sew take an old t shirt he know is yours and sew up the arms neck and stuff then sew the bottom. maybe if he's good all week and stays in bed you could build him a tent over his bed for him to sleep in one night that weekend be sure to let him help you build it. get him excited about going to bed. you could use pvc pipes for the frame of the tent it's inexpensive and easy to do then drape the sheet over top of it. my daughter wouldn't go to sleep when she was little so I went out and bought this tiny little stuff animal, came home roughed him up a bit pulled off eyes and such, then told her it was mine when I was a kid and when I slept he would send good dreams my way. but only if I was asleep.
