Stay in Bed?

When my son was about 1 1/2, he decided to start getting out of bed over and over. I laid on the floor outside his bedroom door and everytime I saw his feet start to come out over the edge of his bed, I opened the door, said "no", put him back in his bed, and walked out the door. I did this over and over and over and over and over the first time, but the second time was a tiny bit less, the third time was even less, and after a few days, he got the hint. He finally gave up because I was totally consistent. Those days sucked because I literally was laying on the floor outside his bedroom for like 2 hours, but well worth it in the end because he stopped trying to get out of bed. It's about following through, being consistent, and not getting into a conversation with him while you're in there.

I hear you on the very tired SAHM experience! Maybe he isn't ready to be in his own room yet. Mine is 4 and has only been able to sleep all night in her own room for a few months. Previously she slept in her bed right next to ours. She often woke up and crawled into bed next to me but fell right back asleep, so it usually didn't disturb my sleep. I also give her .25 ml melatonin most nights, as otherwise it takes at least an hour for her to fall asleep, and I have to stay next to her! Every child is different, and no, I don't think yours is unusual. Also try black out curtains (I actually use door panels from Country Curtains, hung over the windows with tension rods. Sometimes white noise, such as a fan, is helpful. Make sure you have an established bedtime routine, and that your child gets plenty of exercise, but not for the few hours before bedtime. Good luck!

hi B.,

I have found that discussing with him what he can expect is most helpful. Tell him that he is such a big boy now and that he gets to sleep in his very own bed. Let him know that you will still continue a night-time ritual, like music (CD- lullaby) and a bed-time story, then it is lights off. Let him know how proud you are that he is doing so well. And when he is not doing so well, let him know that it is not going to help him to continue to get up, and wake you to only be taken back to his room.

I don't know HOW you began the transition, but it is always best for him to have had time to look forward to the changes. Time to talk about them, and then he has the best chance at adjusting in the best way he can.

There is always reward charts and things of that nature, when he does wht he is supposed to. You might as well add in the potty progress, (I don't know if he is finished potty training, and is out of pull ups completely or not), but there are so many things that we work with our children on at this age.

Unfortunately, you cannot go backward- by putting him back into your bed, and then talking with him regularly- because he would already see this as you giving in.

So good luck moving forward. You both need your sleep.

God Bless

A.

Could be that it's a little separation anxiety sort of thing.

Make sure you have a good bedtime routine set up.

Supernanny will say to put him to bed; 1st time he gets up, say, "It's bedtime, darling", place him back in bed and walk out; 2nd time up, "It's time for bed", place him back in bed and walk out. Each time after that whenever he gets out of bed, don't say anything, just keep putting him back in bed until he falls asleep.

It could be that he's worried that once you're out of the room, you won't come back. There's another technique that you put him in bed, and then sit at the corner of the bed on the floor, facing the door. Every time you put him back, you return to that spot. Every night you get closer to the door until you're "out the door".

I'd also make sure he has some sort of stuffed animal. Both our daughters have something - older daughter has 2 purple buddies, and younger daughter has a pink dolly and yellow duck (Ming Ming).

For what it's worth - and good luck!

Julie said it all. No talking, be there EVERY time to put him back, and don't give up. His reward for getting up is more fun time with Mom. By talking to him and soothing him, you are rewarding him. That's why it's so important not to engage him, not even eye contact. It takes the reward out of it for him. Good luck!( By the way, the same rules go for time out--- no engaging, just repeatedly putting him back in the corner. It works if you do it consistently.)

What I did when my kids were little, was told them that if they couldn't sleep, they could look at books or play something quiet on their bed until they fell asleep, but they were not allowed to come out of their room. It worked very well.