I am at my wit's end with my 2 yr old son! He will not stay in bed, he has not always been like this just the last 2wks. every naptime and bedtime is a constant fight. I am up and down the stairs 8-10 times(this lasts for an hr!) putting him in bed and him getting out 2 min. later. Last night he hid from me and I could not find him for 5 min w/ me screaming for him frantically until I offered him a snack and he finally came out. I was furious. But if I let him come down stairs he is out in 2 min. Please I am desperate for any advice!
Things have gotten better.. a little at least. Well we gave up our afternoon nap it was hard and if he does fall asleep in the afternoon I cut it to 1 hour. Now bedtime is alot easier.. especially if he knows mom and dad are in the hallway and he is not getting past us! Thanks for all the great advice!
He may have out grown his nap. Try not giving him one for a couple of days. Then, if needed, put him to bed a little earlier.
Not to make light of your situation, I'm sure it's frustrating. But look on the bright side, you're getting exercise! :)
*hugs* and good luck.
M.
I was in the same boat as you. Only this started when my son was still in his crib! So I bought a crib tent. (can be found at Babies R Us) What a life saver. When he turned 2, I was anxious to transform his crib into the Toddler bed. What a mistake this was! Night after night it was a fight. I was up some nights until 2 am fighting it!!!! So I put the bed back together and put the tent back on. Now he doesn't have a choice but to go to bed. Even if he has a fit, he can't get out.
You may want to look in Ebay for a cheaper one...I know you can find them on there. At Babies R Us, they're $80. But well worth the $$.
Good luck!
J.
why don't you try putting a gate up at his bedroom door? you can hear him, he can hear you, and he can't get out. the worst that will happen is he'll have fit, and cry himself to sleep on the floor.
Go through your bedtime routine the first time and say good night. Then, I'd sit outside his room with a book and every time he got up, put him back down without saying anything. Just pick him up and place him in bed as if it's nothing different and shut the door. It took a couple nights, but it worked on Dr. Phill!
Good Luck:)
When reading your request it was like you were witnessing what goes on in my house every day too. We have the exact same problem at our house. My son started when he learned how to climb out of his crib a few weeks before he turned 2. It has now almost been 3 months and he is not getting any better. We put a gate in his door and he just climbs it and will lay in the hall and sleep. I’m beginning to think that he just hates his bed. We have tried talking to him, taking away favorite animals and even yelling with no prevail. The one thing that has seemed to work the last 3 night is pulling the gate about 5 inches off the floor. This way it’s too high for him to want to climb. The first night he was sleeping by the door and the last 2 he was back in bed when I checked on him. Honestly if he ends up falling asleep by the door it’s better then nothing. I think they think it is some kind of game because most of the time my son has a little smile on him face. Please Please let me know if you find something that really works for you. I posted a request last month and did not really get a huge response.
Hi when my four year old was three I had a similar problem. What I did was put him to bed in his room and stand out in the hallway by the steps and wait for him to come out. once he came out I put him back to bed and this would happen quite a few times, but it worked. once he figured out that I wasn't going to let get away with it he gave up and went to sleep. I had to do this for about a week if that and he started going to bed after I tucked him in.. however if I ever let him sleep down stairs for one night its hell to this day, because we fight about it.
good luck and don't worry it will work out.
chris
When putting the 2 year old to bed you may have to sit outside his door and wait until he falls asleep. I know this isn't convient but it's become a game to him. he needs to know that you are consistant and that when you put him in his room for bedtime he is to stay there and you will enforce it. This is a game you MUST win or whatever discipline you try in the future will be affected by his perception that you don't really mean it. It will also prevent him from "hiding" from you.....Good Luck! This too shall pass!
One thing my mom used to do to my sister is to stand right outside her door. (Place a seat there if you'd like to sit down.) She would put her to bed and then stand right outside the closed door. Whenever my sister tried to open the door and "sneak" out, my mom would be standing there waiting for her. My sister would scream, slam the door shut and go back to bed. However, she would then try again a few minutes later... but my mom would always be there!!! Once they get the picture they will give up. You may have to do this for a week and then he will eventually understand that he doesn't get a choice in the matter.
sorry honey,but he's caught on that he"s got all your attention,stressed out to your weakened point of given into his wants(snacks)and basically he is in control and loving every minute of it now and now it"s turning into hiding go seek. If you can muster up some tough love and take control from him, each time he comes out of his room once put to bed,keep carrying him back to bed,leave the room. I know, he'sstill screaming and running out,right? Keep taking him back to bed until he is wore out and YOU. It's not going to be easy but unless you want this to continue and get worse, then you will be a mess and he's still in control.
