Hello, I have a 20 mth old son who recently fell out of his crib. We immediately bought a toddler bed. He got sick the same week that we bought the toddler bed and the virus lasted for 3 long weeks. (We had to go to a specialist) He is better now, but during his sickness he slept in our bed. Now the fun begins to try to train him to stay and sleep in the toddler bed. We have tried to get him to sleep in our bed and then put him in his...he wakes up 2 hours later screaming. He cries uncontrollably and just points to our room until we take him back to our bed. Should we be trying to put him to sleep in the bed from the get go? He cries and tries to walk to our room when we tell him it is night night time. During naptime, he doesn't want to sleep in the toddler bed either. Any suggestions would be great. I am due in 4 mths. with another child and would love to have this issue resolved before the newborn arrives.
Hey, funny meeting you here! Damn, Mav's not having his new bed huh? Maybe you should start by just reading to him in his bed throughout the day but not forcing him to lie down at first. Then be sure to praise him every time he gets in his bed and tell him he's a big boy. Maybe that would encourage him to get in and stay in. It's just a shot in the dark. I really hope you get some good advice that works for you. You poor thang! Love ya, Jules
By 2 bedrails, it makes them feel safer as if they were still in their crib. I bought my son the race car bed and he wouldn’t sleep in it. Also bring in your pillow and make a little bed next to his, act as if you were going to sleep next to him and when he falls asleep go to your bed. I had to do that with my son for a few nights just to make him feel safe. But don’t give in. If you let him in your bed when he cries he will continue to cry to sleep in your bed. Give it a few nights and he will like his new “Big Boy Bed”. Keep telling him that’s he’s a Big Boy. Good Luck!!
Hi J.,
I have a 19 month old and we just finished going throught this ourselves. She climbed out of her crib and fell so we had to convert to the toddler bed. But then she didn't want to stay in it. I chose to lay in her bed with her for the first week until she fell asleep. Then I carfully snuck out. If she woke up in the night then I did it again. After about a week then I just sat at the end of the bed. I did that for a few days. Then I sat or laid on the floor for about a week or so. I ten moved to the ddorway for a couple of days. Then outide the door with the door open but would stick my head in if I heard her get up. I am know able to just put her in stand in the doorway for a minute and then just leave her. I did it gradually and even though I was tired I think it really helped her get comfortable with being in her big girl bed on her own. I do have a guardrail but 2 wouldn't have worked for me because she would have just climbed over it and fallen on the floor.
Good Luck! I actually may need your advice since we are trying for our 2nd and I also have a stepdaughter who's 12.
A.
I understand your concern and I feel sorry that you are going through this hard time. I never had the problem, but my friends have as well as roommates and I have helped them with the problem. First of all-NEVER take him to your bed, even if he cries and screams. It'll just make things worse. He then gets his way. What I usually do is lay them in the bed, if they get up, I keep putting them back in bed, over and over. Let him cry and scream. I know it's hard, but eventually he'll get tired and go to bed-then the will also get used to his bed. My roommates daughter used to always get up, and I would do this over and over, and eventually, she stopped. You should give it a whirl! ;-)
Hi, we just went through this with our daughter. We had her nap in a portable play yard, but at night, we had her sleep in her bed. I put her in there and then close the door. I put a baby proof door handle cover on the knob, so she couldn't get out. She usually plays with a few toys and then gets in her bed and falls asleep. The first week or two she cried for a few minutes, but then played and fell asleep. Now, she sometimes even climbs in her bed and pulls up her covers without playing.
