When Is Toddler Old Enough to Understand Staying in Bed

My 2 1/2 YO son moved into his big-boy bed at Christmas. It was a big Christmas present to convert the crib to a bed and the changing table to an art desk. Initially, I had to lay in his room with him until he went to sleep, but it didn't take long before I didn't have to do that anymore. But in the mornings I would find him laying outside my bedroom door (For some reason he could get HIS door open but he couldn't get MY door open). I was very nervous about that because the stairs are right outside my door and he could've easily fallen down them in the dark. So instead of putting a gate on my door, I put it on his. Now he can get up and play in his room until I get up.

My one warning is to be prepared for panic that first night. My son's first night in a bed he woke up and came out into the living room expecting to find us there. We'd always been there when he got up before because we had to get him out of the crib. Well, when he came out and it was dark and we weren't there, he screamed with absolute panic. I think that is the fastest I have ever run across the house to him! Poor thing! If I had known that would happen, I would have started with a baby gate.

When my daughter did this, I just escorted her back to her room each and every time she came out telling her that it was too early and that everyone is still sleeping. I had to do this several times a night for several weeks. I would even take her to the window and show her that it was still dark outside. I actually didn't realize how much that one connected until several months later, I was trying to sleep in a bit and she went to the window and said "Mom, it's light outside, time to wake up".

I wouldn't obsess about making sure she is sleeping. My daughter would usually play quietly for about 20 minutes, then eventually went back to sleep in her bed.

I have never really had too much trouble in this area, but I have had to occasionally battle the middle-of-the-night visits. For a while, my son would get up and go downstairs by himself! We turned the doorknob around on the door so that we could lock it from the outside. He had a monitor in his room, so we could hear everything that went on in there, if he ever needed anything. Alternatively, could you put a gate across her doorway so she can't get out? My personal philosophy is that having toys in the room teaches them to be self-sufficient and entertain themselves. Eventually, this stage will pass...she will sleep more and you will worry less. In the end, you will have taught her that she must wait until an appropriate time of the morning to wake you, even if SHE is awake long before that time.

I switched my oldest son's crib to a toddler bed a little after he turned a year (he's 2 1/2 now), once his walking was more stable and the first few nights and nap times he played for a while, but I would just go in there every 5-10 minutes or so and I was able to get him to go to sleep. With the waking up early, he didn't really start that until more recently. The first few times it happened I would walk him back to bed and explain that it was too early, now I just tell him that it is too early and he goes back to his bedroom by himself. He normally just goes in there and plays until I come and get him or he hears me up and moving around. Another idea that I have heard, that I am getting ready to try, is to get a cheap clock, one that can come apart, and decorate it really cute and then put certain colors on it to signify sleep time time that it is ok to come and get you. Then you explain that once the hand gets to blue (or green or pink or whatever you choose) then you can come and get me, but if you wake up before that then you need to stay in here and do puzzles, play with legos, whatever. I also went through a phase where it was a game to come out of the room and get me to 'chase' him back to bed, so I too used a child knob on the door, but thankfully he has grown out of it. Sorry for being so long winded, just trying to get everything I can think of in. Oh, one more thing...Good luck! =)

I went through this when my 7 yr.old was that age and Im about to go through it again with my 2year old soon.
He was an early bird too. and Yes, yes, he would get up much earlier when he felt FREE!! So I would march him back into the room and explain to him that it was not time to get up yet and when it was I would come get him but that I would lay with him for a few minutes. He would still come back to my bed after I would get up and I would still march him back in his room.....we did this for many weeks then what I started doing is falling asleep with him in his bed(just to get another hour of sleep in). Before I knew it he would stay in his room until I came and got him. He got so used to this....I think he was almost 4 and he would sit in his room awake and wait for me to come get him. PEople thought I beat him or someting....they couldnt believe he wouldnt come out until I said so. But he was always a good kid that never wanted to break the rules. Now my daughter, I have a feeling she will be much different. So I may be eating all my words. I do know being consistent helps. Especially at this age. You feel like they dont understand but as time goes on...they will.
Goodluck.

My daughter is 2 1/2 also & she started sleeping in her toddler bed recently too. At first we took all of the toys out of her room because I was afraid she wouldn't go to sleep because she's playing with them. But after a few weeks I decided the toys may enable her to feel more comfortable playing in her room after she wakes up until I come in to get her. The toys worked for a little while because she liked the new independence, but then she just started calling for me (there is a door knob cover sometimes and a baby gate sometimes on her door) as soon as she woke up. Then I would just go in her room in the morning when she called for me and tell her that she doesn't have to go back to sleep, but she needs to wait until the sun comes up outside and she can get up too. Now she usually lays around on her bed until she actually falls asleep again. Once she wakes up the second time it's much later. I cheer for her and act all excited so she knows that sleeping in is a good thing. (-:
The night light is a really good idea! I'm sure you'll figure out what works for her if it doesn't work out right from the begining. I'm no expert by any means, but it seems like if you let her come out of her room the first time you turn her bed into a toddler bed, then she'll know it's possible to come out next time. So maybe you could just use this "big girl bed" as a turning point for coming out of her room before daylight.

Hi. I think she's old enough but that doesn't mean she'll stay. :) When I switched my daughter from crib to big girl bed she was escaping ALL the time. She wouldn't go to sleep, wouldn't stay in her room, was always coming down stairs, etc.

We attempted putting a baby gate at the top of the stairs...but then she just roamed around upstairs. And then learned how to open the gate. ugh!

Then we decided to close her door and put a baby proof knob on it. She's hasa monitor so I hear her when she's up. Alot of times she comes and knocks on the door....but most of the time she gets up and quietly plays in her room. I didn't remove any of her toys either. The first week or so she would stay up and play and wouldn't nap because she had that freedom...but then the novelty of it wore off I guess. :)

So I would try all of the above. I removed the child proof knob after a few weeks and now she just stays in her room.
(oh and if she's potty trained...I kept her portable potty in her room at night when I had the child proof knob on there and that worked well. she never has to go at night...but it was a just incase). :)

Good luck!

We put our little girl in a toddler bed when she was 1 and she did great , she did get up and come and get in bed with us every now and then.

I believe she's old enough for you to teach her when she can come out of her room. Teach them the good habits as early as possible. I also have a 2 1/2 year old who we moved to a toddler bed when she turned two. Whenever she would get up too early I would just escort her back to bed and tell her it's too early and go back to sleep. She didn't always go back to sleep, but at least played quietly in her room. I think it's fine that they play safely in their room or bed. After doing this enough times they start to establish an internal clock. Also explaining the night light several times will make it eventually all sink in too. This may take several weeks but if you are consistent it will be all worth it. Good luck.

She is plenty old enough now. You'll have to be persistant with her too, probably every day for a while. You might even be suprised how she might stay in bed on her own. My son did for the first month then he started give us a hard time at night about going to bed. You could try using a baby gate at her door way if you think she wouldn't climb over it and then in the morning she could just play in her room. As far as the toys go, it won't matter. Just make sure they are picked up at night and she has a clear path to the door in case she wakes up in the middle of the night.

I like the idea of your night light! I've never head of one like that! Hope it works for you guys!

Good luck!
S.

Hello M.!
By age I think yr lil angel is old enough, but evry child is diff, so the only way to find out is to try it for a few nights and see. I have been thinking about the same thing lately because our son is almost 2yo, so this is what I came up with... I would put a baby gate right outside his bedroom door like in the hallway, that way the dorr will still shut. And I would put a baby monitor on the other side of the baby gate and the reciever in yr room. That way u know wht time she is up and where she is. I would deffinatly put away some toys, at least the really loud ones. U can try giving her something to do every morning as a "big girl" she can make her bed,brush her hair, get dressed or organize the stuffed animals. When all is done she can come and get you. It might keep her bussy for a lil longer. Good luck!

The solution is very simple, put a gate on her door so she can't come into your room. Let her play in her room till you are ready to get her.

We just recently took the gate off of my now 4 yr olds door, we go it at walmart it's a 3 foot pressure gate that's hard to climb; its "extra tall"