Help! For about three weeks now, my son has been waking up between 1-2AM and won't go back to sleep in his crib. The minute you lay him on the floor next to his crib, he falls right back to sleep. We have tried everything, new mattress, letting him cry it out, patting his back, playing music, a little brighter night light. Nothing seems to work. I don't feel comfortable leaving him on the floor to sleep because he rolls around a lot when he sleeps and I don't want him to hit walls or furniture. I am out of ideas on what else to try. Have any of you all had a similar situation? He was just fine up until about three weeks ago, and I don't see an end in sight, it happens every night. We can't think of anything different we are doing and nothing traumatic has happened in our lives to trigger this. Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Last night we let him sleep on the floor. He slept through the night, so I guess he was just tired of sleeping in his crib. We are going to start looking for a toddler bed for him this weekend. Thanks all for your help!
HI! I have a 2 1/2 yr old daughter who did something similar...we bought her a toddler bed and she went to bed without fuss and didn't wake up...also his crib may not be comfortable for him?
I agree with the other Mama. Do what works for you. My daughter hated her crib! She started sleeping through the night (in her room) when we got her a big girl bed. She was 2 years old at the time. She is now 5 and loves her pink room. My 2 1/2 year old twins were out of the crib at 1 1/2. One of them is often in our bed. You know, I need sleep. He'll get over it. He usually starts off in his bed and comes in our room at about 3am or so. Life goes on! That's how I see it.
My oldest (now 16) was out of the crib and sleeping in a WWII Army bunk bed (been in our family *forever*) when he was just about a year old ~ no probs. (I moved, and my MIL at the time would NOT let me take the crib! He was too old for me to buy a new one to use, but he did just fine.)
My 2 1/2 year old was out of his crib and in his toddler bed around 15 months. (We needed to get it back to the friend who had given it to us, because she found out she was pregnant, which wasn't planned.) I had a little more trouble with him staying in his bed, but he wasn't too bad.
If you can, I would suggest going ahead and putting his crib mattress on the floor with the big pillows around it, and letting him sleep there. If he makes it through a weekend (when you don't have to go to work) with no problems of waking up, then his waking up was his way of telling you he's a "big boy" now. Then you and DH can look for a toddler bed or twin bed for him to sleep in. Just make sure you buy the rails for it so he doesn't "fall" out of his bed at night, and/or set the pillows on the floor next to his bed, just in case.
With the cats in the house, they may have to "move" while you're trying the "floor" method, just to make sure they don't accidentally sleep on your son. My cat never did, but I have heard of it happening.
Good Luck with the transition!
~J.~
Wow, I think all 16 months olds are waging war on us moms right now, because my 17 month old is doing something similar. I keep thinking, do I put him in a toddler bed..I dont think I am ready for that!! But I cant keep doing this every night either. Well, what we decided to do was make a little place on the floor next to the wall, and surround it with pillows, for the nights that he wakes up. I do not want this to become a habit for him, but I have 4 kids and have an inhome daycare, so 1 in the morning is not the time for me to be making a stand!!! Honestly, I have enough experience to know that they will outgrow almost all their little quirks, and then you will be able to stop this evening ritual, but I am a BIG fan of doing what works for you at the moment. I dont ever make my kids cry it out, and they are all great sleepers!! I give in to the things that they seem to need at the time,even if I dont understand the reason, because I think that I am teaching them that I understand their needs, and am always willing to help them feel comfortable and happy. Now, in the end, it all may backfire on me and the kids will be in therapy anyway, but isnt that what mothering is all about :) Good luck to us all! ~A.~
