2 Year Old New to "Big Girl Bed"

Very Important: Put up a gate in the hallway or doorway so she can't escape the house when you're not looking!

You might have to get a little tough on her. My son made the switch last year and that's when we really had to pull out the disipline on him. We've tried everything and all of it eventually worked.

Give up on naps for a while. She'll be so tired at night she'll put up less of a fight.

Try naps on the couch with a favorite movie and warm blankets. (works everytime for my son)

Make threats and follow through like "stay in bed or I'm taking bunny away".

Explain to her that sleeping makes her grow big.

Let her play in her room until she falls asleep on her own.

Have a strict routine that leads to being very relaxed right before bed. Read books and play lullabys and have a good night light.

Don't stay in the room with her. That will just be another bad habit to break in the future.

It's really tough to bed train some kids. Keep in mind that a cheap second crib off Craig's List is also an option. In another 6 months it might be easier.

Hi! We have just made the same switch with our daughter who is 20 months. She did the same thing, was fine for the first 3 days, but then she wouldn't sleep without throwing a big fit. We always put her to bed after her nightly routine and we say good night, blow kisses and close the door. She can open the door to her bedroom, so we had to lock her door, but the key was be consistant. After about a week, she went back to going to bed in her big girl bed without problems. Good Luck! and Congrats!

Is there something from her crib that you could put in her bed to give her something familiar?

If that doesn't work, are there side rails you could put on the bed to make her feel more secure or remind her of her crib?

Another thought is to buy a bed tent. My son used to love sleeping in his on his bed. It just gave a sense of fun and security.

Good luck!

everyone has such good suggestions. I would try those and then see the pediatrician and ask for some sleepy med for a short term just to establish a habit. When she starts waking up in her bed and sees everything is fine, she will go there willingly....after a new tent, new picture (hey, maybe a pic of you on a bedside table), new sheets....lol

she may be feeling like too many changes all at once. New baby, new bed, new routine. Maybe take her to the store and let her pick out a set of sheets, or a special picture for her room. 2 is young for change, and it is a tough transition. Good luck!

I would think of trying to make a way that it was fun for her. She probably did great for a couple days because it was a novelty, something new. Now its boring and she understands on some level the transition.