Hello, my son in 22 months old. He has been going to bed on his own and sleeping well since he was about 4 months old. He is not a huge napper so he sleeps really well at night. All of a sudden he is refusing to sleep in his crib. He has never slept in our bed so I don't know where this is coming from. He screams like crazy and acts terrified of something until we just give in. I really don't understand what is going on with him. My only thought was maybe he is ready to change to a toddler bed? We were hoping to wait as long as possible but are considering it now. Anyone else experience this or have any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
Thank you for your answers! We are on night four of the toddler bed and he is back to normal. I guess he just wanted a normal bed and didn't want to be confined anymore. Again, thanks for the advice!
sounds like nightmares more than being ready for a bed MAYbe a change of bed would help
I would get the toddler bed but dont get rid of the crib yet!
Our son did the same. He was almost two and not a huge talker but one night he looked at me and said " I sleep on big boy bed." That was definitely the longest sentence he had ever come up with!
We went out the next day and bought him one of those metal toddler beds. He slept in it one night and then moved to the double bed in the guest room. Stayed there for good. The toddler bed squeaked when he moved so he hated it.
That boy is now 19 and still sleeping in that same double bed. Probably time for a new one, although he says it is still good!
Good luck.
When he screams like crazy, console him and then walk away. Wait a few minutes and come in and console him again, reassuring him you are there, but do not take him out and do not put him in bed with you. Keep that up until he falls asleep. Don't do anything that you don't want him to learn accompanies prolonged screaming. Some kids have a lot of endurance and will scream until they get what they want. If you make it worth his while, he will use his screams to get you to do whatever he wants.
I think that he is ready for a toddler bed. He may feel confined to the crib. My daughter has been in a big girl bed when she was about 1 1/2. She hated the crib and cried everytime we put her in. I spoke to my pediatrician and he told us that it was time. She was so excited about her bed. Ask him if he wants a big boy bed just like mommy and daddys and see what he says or what his reaction is. I really think that it is time for the change. Good Luck
Toddler beds are for toddlers and yours isn't really going to be a toddler
much longer. He's almost a preschooler aged child. He could skip the toddler bed and go directly to a twin, full, queen or king. What ever you're going to put him in as a young child.
It will save you the effort of transitioning him again in a few months when he outgrows the toddler bed by size and weight.
I agree that this sounds like it could be a bad dream. This is about the time my son started having nightmares. We just stayed in with him a little longer each night until he seemed to be over it. Their imaginations are quite active and I think my son gets even more scared because he can't quite verbalize what's going on for us to comfort him properly. Just be patient and it will pass.
Unrelated to the fear of the crib: we moved him to a big boy bed at about this age. Our pediatrician actually recommended we move him at 18 months, but I didn't do it quite that early. The worry is that they'll figure out how to climb out one day and hurt themselves.
I suggest that this may not have anything to do with the crib. It's more likely the bed is associated with something negative. Have you put him in his crib for discipline? Has he awakened in the night with bad dreams? Can he see shadows from the crib? That sort of thing.
You could try moving the crib to a different location in the room.
Have you tried staying in the room with him until he falls asleep. Does he have a night light and/or soothing music?
May be he is ready. try a todder bed. if he likes cars get one like a car. they are low and the sides come up so there is no way they can fall out of them. Take him to the store and show him the toddler beds and see what his reaction is. Good luck
