2 Year Old Climbing Out of crib....won't Go to Sleep

I skipped buying a toddler bed and went for a twin with a side rail thing you slide under the mattress. It works great for me. As for sleeping on his own, I acted so excited about the big boy bed that he couldn't wait to try it out. Also, it took a week or so, but my son learned that nap time and bed time were non-negotiable by me taking him back to bed every time he got out. A great book is also "Healthy Sleep habits, Happy Child"... I highly recommend it.
Good luck!
:)

Putting a gate at the door worked for us too. Sometimes the child is wandering around the room a bit or looks at books for a while, but then eventually they figure out how to wind down and go to sleep. Good luck!

Hi Melinda,
I have a great on-line book called "Sleep Sense Program". This book covers a lot of issues regarding your issues. It gave me the tools to correct my daughters bad sleep habits and in fact, also made me realize that I was enabling my childs issues or even helping her to create them. I also brought my daughter into bed with me when she woke up in the middle of the night. Biggest mistake of my life!!!! I could go on forever about my problems, but I just wanted to offer this book to you. Please email me at ____@____.com and I will forward it to you. (and any other mom who might need it)
Hope you have a wonderful and safe New Year,
M.

Do a clean transition to the toddler bed. If you don't want to gate him in or close the door, you will just need to explain to him that big boys stay in their beds (at some time NOT bedtime, like when you are converting the bed and showing him what a big boy bed looks like). Then when he invariably gets out of bed and wanders around, take him by the hand, saying "it's bedtime, remember we talked about this, we expect you to be a big boy and stay in your bed." Then the next time, and every time after that, silently walk him back and tuck him into bed - no words, no attention, no hugs. He will eventually get it after a few days of this routine. Good luck.

I think you have to do a few days of being consistent and using the toddler bed and just pick him up or hold his hand and bring him back to his bed every time he gets up. He'll eventually get tired of it and realize he should just stay in bed. But you have to hold strong and not lay down next to him for it to work.

We went through the same thing; but we decided to get a crib tent, since I wasn't ready to move her to a bed yet. The crib tent is GREAT. It works exactly how I want it to work, and it actually helped my daughter feel safer and more secure in her crib. She LIKES her crib tent. So for us, crib tent works-- it may be a temp. fix, but it's so worth it. When my daughter is ready, we will move her directly to a twin mattress, bypassing the toddler bed (which I think is not worth the money), or a bunk bed with her older brother.

I think this is a make a plan and stick with it for a few days. Put up the todler bed. Make a big deal (maybe get a special new big boy blanket or pillow) and let him know this is where he is sleeping now. It may be a crazy few days but it will go away once he realizes that this is how it is.

Melinda G,
I had this problem with my oldest boy (now 36 yrs old). He climbed out of bed more times than I could count. But, You can lay on your bed while he lays in his crib and wait him out. This will let you know that he is going to lay down. I did this and he only tried once after he saw me in the room. He stopped after he knew it was nap time. Or you could put him down for a nap in his play pen and he would be able to sleep once he is in the play pen. This could work as well. I also used child gates, but those were a joke since he climbed over them as well. This will pass though, good luck.

My daughter did the same thing at 2 y/o. All I can say is crib tent!!! I had one sleepless night, and the next day the tent went up and stayed there for one year. At 3, we converted her crib to a toddler bed. I have been sleeping great since! best of luck

Hi Melinda,

I know how you feel, my son is 3 years and 3 months and we this convert his crib into a toddler bed, but he stay in his bed until i go there, he knows he is not allowed to get out or even more leave the room. Also he is older then your little boy, so I know mine understand better, but I think you should change to a toddler bed and try to talk to him and see if he stay in his room. My friend is doing that transition with her little boy, he is 23 months and she lock the door, so he doesnt get out, she only did for a week and he is fine now. She lock on way that was easy for her to open in case of emergencie but not for him.
Is a huge step for them and for us, but whatever you do try not to be a habit, like stay in his room until he fall sleep.
That will be hard to break later, you know what is best!
As long everything is child proof in his room, he staying there alone is safe, believe me will be more hard on us!

Good luck and keep up the good work!