Help with 20Mo Sleeping in His Toddler Bed

I consulted with a sleep expert and we just did a workshop and there was a M. there with your situation. She told them to put their son back in his 'crib.' At that age, it's hard to 'reason' with someone to 'stay' in their bed when they are that young. She recommended keeping a toddler in their crib until they are 2 1/2 - 3 years old. I was a very pregnant with a 16 month old so I feel your pain but I had to lower the rail everytime to get him out. If you are at your wits end, I would suggest putting him back in his crib (if he seemed content there). Also, go to www.3daysleep.com and get Davis' video. She is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! We are doing another sleep workshop in a month or two if you are interested..........just email me. :)
Good luck!!

Put a mattress on the floor.
He may feel better that way.

Hi R.,
I have a great on-line book that I can forward to you called "Sleep Sense Program", It really showed me what I was doing wrong and helped me correct them. This book made me realize that my daughters sleep issues were actually being reinforced by me. As soon as I made some changes, she started staying in her bed. We created a whole ruitine for when she would wake up in the middle of the night. We learned that we needed to be consistant and repeat everything over and over again. Even using key phrases and sticking to them. It worked for my little girl, and I'm sure it could help your family.
Please email me at ____@____.com and I will forward this on-line book to you. (and anyone else who might need it)
Take care!
M.

We had to move our daughter to a toddler bed when she was 18 mo. She climbed out!!! Successfully the first few times, then she fell! That was awful! What helped us was making sure all her needs were met, sticking to the routine, sitting by her bed while holding her hand and singing a couple songs, and I know some people would be horrified, but we gave her a gentle swat on the bum when she got out of bed. She figured things out pretty quick. We have grace for the times when she's sick and wants to be with us, and it always takes a couple days after that to transition back to normal. But don't do the "silent walk" back to bed. I have friends whose kids made that into an exhausting game, and we all know that toddlers can play those games way longer than we can. You'll go into early labor with all that walking back and forth to/from his bed! Also, reward him the next morning if he stays in his bed. Make it a BIG reward or it won't work. If he doesn't bite that bait right away, give him a reward for something else he does and then ask him if he wants it for staying in bed. He's smart... Then again, I have a 19 1/2 mo DS right now who I can guarantee wouldn't stay in his bed if I beat him repeatedly (not that I would do that!). Good thing he's still in his crib!

Hi R., Have a great bed time routine, tuck him in and be firm about him staying in his bed, and that their will be consequences if he does not obey. I don't recomend a guard gate, he needs to be able to use the potty. When our 3 were around 18 months old, we took the crib down and just used the mattress on the floor with their blankets and stuffed animals, and we had no issues, they slept like that until 2, then went into twin beds.It sounds like you are doing a lot of unnessesary business to keep your son in his bed. You telling time and being firm with him should be enough, but you should let your husband take over the situation so you can get some sleep and rest. J.

You may want to consider putting a gate on the door to his room so he can't leave the room. Once he realizes there is nowhere to go, the novelty of getting out of bed may go away.
Also, limit how long you stay in there with him. I only stay 5 minutes with my son (he's almost 3, but also recently transitioned from a crib to a bed). He would love it if I stayed till he was asleep but I just can't wait that long!

I'd recommend staying 5 minutes max, then leaving. If he gets out of bed, walk him back - the first time it happens, tell him "it's bedtime now, you need to stay in your bed and go to sleep." Each subsequent time, walk him back to bed without saying anything at all. Don't stay in his room after bringing him back.

If you decide to gate his room, just check in every 5-10 minutes and remind him to get back in bed if he's up and playing.

Good luck.

K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao