Help, Newborn on Way and 2Yr. Toddler Won't Sleep in Own Bed!

I put my child in her bed next to mine with the rail down. I kept the same bedtime routine just put her next to me using only my hand and voice to sooth. After that I used just my voice to sooth. Then put the rail up and didn't the same thing. Slowly, the bed moved toward her room until she made it to hers. When she woke up at night I would go in there and used the same routine to get her back down. My daughter decided she didn't like the baby bed and we had to switch to a toddler bed. (She couldn't get used to the bed, but I would stick to the bed as it will come in handy later.) Best of luck and patience is the key.

I had the same issue. It actually took my husband at the time to start sleeping with her in another room. We eventually moved a second bed into the room and got her to sleep in her own bed with someone else in the other, but it took alot of time and patience. Fortunately my second really enjoyed sleeping in her own crib, so it worked out. :]

I had the same problem with my 3 year old! Someone mentioned to me the Good Nite Lite and it has worked wonders. It is a nite lite you plug into the child's room and it has a timer on it that you control. When it is bedtime, it turns into a blue moon meaning time to go to bed. It turns into a yellow sun when it is time to wake. Nothing worked with my son, but this has worked from the first night we used it. He knows he can't come to mommy's bed until the sun comes on. We're now working on moving the timer so he sleeps later.

www.goodnitelite.com

if you have a big enough bed, you can have one baby on each side of you. Just get your 2-year old used to having your back to him now, not later!

But if you want to transition him, slow steps are best. Start now, with his mattress or a sleeping bag on the floor next to or near your bed. Move closer to door gradually, and just outside, etc. Use rewards as incentives. Be positive, never punish for steps back. It's *all* progress, it really is.

Hopefully you have a little while yet before your baby is due. It might be a few weeks or a month or more before your son is ready for his own bed, and a big change like this is likely to slow down the process a big. Be ready for more time with your son in your bed when the baby arrives! Probably a mix of these two approaches will be the least stressful for everyone involved. At least if you can get your son used to sleeping *near* you, not right next to you, this will be a great help when baby is among you. Of course the sound of the baby crying will probably also wake up your son, but he might prefer to be near you, anyway.

For more information, read the Sears Nighttime Parenting Book. A nice, quick read :) Also, there's the No-Cry Sleep Solution by Pantley. Both deal with nap questions, too.

Safety tip for sleeping with both babies in the bed: have a pillow between your husband and your 2yo.

Have fun! Good luck!

"cry it out" was going to be my suggestion haha But, if you don't already, start a bedtime routine. Ours (although we are bad about not sticking to it..) is that at 8:00, the TV goes off & my daughter takes her bath & gets her PJs on. After the bath she's allowed to play with toys for a bit, or I may play a game or something with her. Then she gets in bed and I read one book to her before I kiss her goodnight and leave the room.

Do your own routine leading up to him laying in his own bed. You might sing to him or pat his back for a bit to try to help him stay in bed and go to sleep.

You could stay in the room until he falls asleep, so he knows you are still there & he's not alone. Or you can say goodnight & walk out. If he cries, go back and reassure him that it's ok & to go to sleep.

Come up with a plan you think will work for you and stick to it! If you stay consistent he will learn the routine and know he is to go to sleep in his own bed.

Good luck!

Curious see an tv ad saying you can teach a 2yr old to read? If so, at a certain time 7:30 / 8:00 sit with him and try teaching him to read.

Either way, Put him in his bed and play with him 2/5 mins. Then tell him you will read him a story. Then lay with him and read a story to him, or maybe a baby book.

The most important thing is to try to tire him out before laying down with him.

Of course if hubby is available it would be great for him to take turns with you.

Give it some time, it will work out.

God Bless

when i moved my girls to their own beds, i sat in the doorway and read them a story. then they would fall asleep soon after and i would get up and leave. even if u sit by his bed then slowly move across the room til ur out or he is asleep he will not feel alone. once ur done reading then tell him goodnight and do not talk to him anymore til he is sleeping. as a matter of fact i would not let them catch me lookin at them because then they would think they could talk to me. goodluck and congrats on the new baby