Hi Moms!
I have a two year old who won't stop jumping in her crib. I put her in bed at night and she's quiet for about 15 minutes and then the banging starts. We went in the first night because we weren't sure what was making the terrible sound. We told her firmly no and to lay down, and then left the room. She started up again immediately but we didn't want to go back in and reinforce the behavior with attention. The crib is a family heirloom and I told her she needs to be gentle with it, but every night the jumping goes on. I've considered putting her in a toddler bed, but she is NOT ready. She's very small and additionally I know she would get out of bed as soon as the door was shut. I'm a firm believer in natural consequences but I don't have any good ideas on how to get this behavior to stop.
I'm really saddened at the lack of creative responses I got. I specifically stated that I didn't want to go back in to her room and didn't want to move her to a toddler bed. Allowing the jumping to continue isn't an option. I had thought a group as diverse and intuitive as the mamasource community would have been able to help me think outside the box and come up with something I had not already thought of. Also, a note to moms who post, when we post a question, we open ourselves and trust with a vulnerability by admitting we are not perfect mothers and are occasionally in need of advice. Please do not leave a post if all you have to offer is judgment on another mother's parenting style. We are here to support each other, not to criticize.
We didn't have a jumper, but a climber. I told her if she climbed she would be on the floor. Mind you when she was on the floor I ended up at the door for a good 45 minutes, but it worked. It did end up moving us to a big bed earlier then we were expecting. And there were some big bed antics, but they were much easier and safer than the crib antics.
at this age my kids climbed out and we moved them to twin beds with rails. they both were so excited about being in a big kid bed that they didn't get out for more than a week. some people just put a mattress on the ground for a while
good luck. maybe let her pick out sheets for the new bed
If you think she's going to get hurt, or that the crib's going to collapse, it just might be time for a toddler bed or something that still has a safety (screen? bar?) that will keep her from rolling out. She's going to have to learn to stay in bed, or stop jumping in the crib, and changing the routine by tucking her into a tiny toddler bed may help her break the habit. How do you correct dangerous behavior now? How do you train her not to do something you don't want her to do, say, touch a hot stove? You can't rely on correcting with natural consequences to teach them everything. Using words and reason with a two year old doesn't always work very well. Being dramatic, while it may get their attention, also may train the child to only listen to you when you are loud or demanding. I'm brain storming now so please know I haven't tried this: Maybe if you get a blanket and dolly and practice going to sleep routines at first on couch or armchair. Play house and have her practice going to sleep and then put you to sleep. Anytime we are pro active and can head off the behavior, its good. Good Luck!
Does she or will she eventually go to sleep? Kids will play in their cribs and then usually go to sleep on their own. The more you pay attention to it, the more she may keep doing it--especially if you continue to go in her room. If you are concerned about the crib, get a different one. Why do you need to stop this behavior? who is it bothering? If she is safe and then falls asleep it might not be a battle you need to fight.
I have a 2 year old also and we used to have the same problem, but in her toddler bed. I believe that by not going into her room to keep correcting the problem, you are still reinforcing the behavior. She's smart enough to know that if mommy doesn't come into the room, she will be able to keep jumping and there has been no consistent boundary marked.
Anytime our little one would get out of bed, we would just give her a little switch on the back of her leg, say "no jumping", lay her on the bed and leave the room. Sometimes I would be standing there for 45 minutes to an hour. The key is to be able to give her consistent boundaries.
If you don't believe in that method, then you could try standing in the doorway and every time she jumps walk in, say "no jumping" and lay her down.
I'd keep going in there, don't talk to her just keep putting her back down. And just keep doing it until she stops. Might take a few nights of endless putting her down but she will learn what you want. The key is to not talk to her and don't make a big deal out of it. Just put her back to bed, no good nights, no kisses. Just business.... good luck
Is she jumping to get out or is she just having fun. Do you let her take toys to bed. Maybe she's not ready for sleep. If you put some soft toys for her to play with it might help, but what's this "we didn't want to go back in and reinforce the behavior with attention"? How do you expect to stop it if you don't go back in? As the mother of four adults, I can assure you that one trip just won't do it. Tell her flatly and firmly, even if it means a swat on the seat, that jumping in bed is not allowed. If you do it often enough she'll get the idea, but I'll bet the toys work. Does she get much physical exercise? Maybe she's just working off excess energy. Let her run around the house or up and down the hallway. Make a game of it to see how many times she can do it without stopping. That will at least wear her down.
Maybe taking the privelege of having the bed away?? Have her sleep on a cushiony pallet on the floor if she continues to jump after a few redirects. The next night, try the bed again or the pallet, if needed. When she chooses to stop jumping, she could have her big girl bed back. This way, there's no worries about her rolling off of a bed.
Hang in there!
Blessings,
M.
Jumping in the bed is a phase. You do not ever need to hit a child. That will just teach her to hit when she becomes frustrated.
A VERY firm "No jumping on beds" will do it, if you are consistant. Just as she is not allowed to jump on ANY furniture use the words "No jumping on furniiture". "You may jump on the ground when it is not sleep time."
If you are worried about the crib, but do not want to move her to a bed (she may be ready, even if you are not) see if you can borrow a crib or replace it with another crib you do not mind having beat around a bit. Also if it is on rollers, take the rollers off of the crib. If she begins climbing out of the crib, it is definitely time for a toddler bed.
The advice about giving her some soft toys for inside the crib is also great it can be a good distraction.
Never underestimate the comprehension of young children, they comprehend way more than they are given credit for. It does take more energy sometimes, than corporal punishment, but aren't they worth it?
My boys were jumpers also. Leave her be, she will out grow it. She just has excess energy that she needs to get rid of before bedtime. Try doing something energetic berfore her bedtime bath she will be more ready to go to sleep.
I don't think you need to worry about your daughter's size in deciding whether she is ready for a toddler bed. My middle daughter was only 21 pounds when she turned two, but she moved to a twin bed a couple of months before she turned two, mainly because she wanted to sleep in her brother's toddler bed rather than her crib, so they got bunk beds. Now I'm not sure about the getting out of bed part. My daughter was always easy to get down for naps and bedtime. My son was almost 3 when he finally started sleeping in his own bed, and he has always been difficult to get down for bed, but I always gave him a couple of books to look at as long as he didn't get out of bed. Good luck.
To those who asked what it hurts to let them jump. My son jumps on the bed and I have had the same problem getting him to stop. He is frequently, (once or twice a night) hitting his head or his chin, etc. on his crib. I will give the pallet on the floor a try. I have tried giving him toys, taking toys away, and exercise before bed and nothing has worked.
I would take her out of the crib and give her something she can't jump on. When my children would get out of bed and thei room I put one of the chid lock door knob covers on the inside of their door. Oh, they hated that and after the 2nd night of doing it all I had to do was tell them that if they got out of bed I would put the lock back on. I followed through if they did but usually they just stayed in bed because they did not want the lock on. I no longer use the lock.
