2 Year Old Gets Out of Bed at Night

T.,

I'm no expert that is for sure, but I was able to get my little boy to stay in bed with $1.00 toys from Walmart and Target.

For about a week or two I would let my son pick out a toy before bedtime, we then would go put the toy on his shelf where he could see it. He knew he would only get the toy if he slept in his bed all night long.

After about two weeks, he just started sleeping in his bed by himself. But before that we had about 3 or 4 weeks of constantly putting him in his bed over and over each night.

Good Luck!

C. Roeschen
The Trinity Group
Keller Williams
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www.ValueMyNeighborhoodOnLine.com

Hi T.,

It could just be a phase. Jack's been in a toddler bed for only a week and a half, but he's slept on the floor about 3 or 4 times.

He has woken up crying a few times - we have gone in there if it goes on for about 10 minutes or so. I think it will be a lot easier on you guys when you get out of the apartment. That way, maybe he can learn to work through it.

Good luck!
C.

PS - DH says a nightlight might be helpful? I don't know.

Have you tried a baby gate? Then he can at least see out, and no door to bang on?

Hi T -

I believe Supernanny would tell you that on the first time he gets out of be to tell him it's bedtime, I love you, and give a cuddle. The second time, say it's bedtime...and that's it - put him back. After that it's back to bed without talking and as little eye contact as possible. This can take, no joke, close to 50 times sometimes!! We have tried this with my son who occassionally has bouts of getting out of bed. My son thinks the whole thing is a funny game. Other things work for us. He is old enough to bribe, so I tell him what we are going to do after he wakes up...but if he gets up - no deal. And I always follow through. I used to have to tell him in basic words "out of bed...no paint....in bed...Painting!!"

We also have had to regress to the pack and play a few times when we had just had it. I would give him 2 chances - then he had to go in there. He ALWAYS fell right to sleep in it.

One more tool...at night he often seems scared so I tell him that I have to get my pj's on and then I'll come back and check on him. At first I had to explain in basic words what "check on you meant" - but once he understood this has helped.

Oh ya - he also has his comfort items...music on a timer, truck light, andstuffed monkey must be in bed with him.

Good luck...I feel your pain!!!

**I forgot to tell you - we also have a small, tension gate on the outside of his door, so if he does get up, he can't wander around the house. He also likes the door open a little now.

T., My youngest is going to be 3 in August and he often gets up in the middle of the night and comes to sleep in our bed. It is happening later and later in the night, but we just came to the decision that the less atttention we give it and the less we say the better for everyone. We talk to him during the day about sleeping in his bed so that mommy and daddy get sleep. We let him know that when he sleeps with us that we don't get sleep and then we are grumpy. He has been doing this since he crawled out of his crib right after he turned 2 and as I said he is coming to our bed later and later during the night so it does get better. Hope this is a little helpful.

I think if I were a toddler and woke up in the middle of the night in a dark room without my parents I'd get up and bang on the door, too. If you're concerned he's going to get up and wander around the house you should try putting up a gate or putting him back in his crib.