Transition to Toddler Bed - Fullerton,CA

Whats wrong with staying in his crib a little longer or do you think he has to (grow up) keeptrying from time to time dont rush him ther will be a time when you will wish he didnt grow up so fast good luck hes ahealthy bu enjoy him A. no hills

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WHATS WRONG WITH STAYING IN HIS CRIB A LITTLE LONGER OR DO YOU THINK HE HAS TO (GROW UP) KEEPTRYING FROM TIME TO TIME DONT RUSH HIM THER WILL BE A TIME WHEN YOU WILL WISH HE DIDNT GROW UP SO FAST GOOD LUCK HES AHEALTHY BU ENJOY HIM A. NO HILLS

Although this dangerously approaches the "locking him in his room" idea what worked for my oldest was to put up a baby gate while he was falling asleep. He could hear/see us so he felt secure in our presence but also understood boundaries. I would go and open the gate after he fell asleep so he could go potty if needed. I'm sure someone will rip into me and judge me for being lazy but I have two kids in the same room and me coming in and out to put my persistent toddler back to bed 50 times a night was so NOT fair to my baby who was the more difficult sleeper of the two.

BTW to some of the other posters, we all have a limited amount of space/time to explain our ideas here and we can't go into all the extenuating circumstances or nuances of our kids' personalities that influenced us to go one way or the other. Some kids are more persistant than others and nailing the moms b/c a process took longer with their kids than you think it should is just counterproductive. Give 'em snaps for hanging in there and powering through until the job was done! This is supposed to be a *SUPPORTIVE* website. Seriously, we're all trying to give some ideas that worked for us and how likely are we to continue sharing our knowledge if we feel like someone is going to turn around and slam us?

From watching Supernanny, I've learned how to manage this. My daughter was a few months shy of 3 when I bought her a "big girl bed". She also liked to come out. I took the Supernanny's advice and led her back to her room the first time, saying, "It's bedtime, darling." Then every break out from that point on is just about taking your child's hand and leading him back to bed. It can take a while, but eventually your son will fall asleep in the bed on his own. Be consistent, otherwise it will take longer for your son to learn that there is nothing fun to do when he comes out of his room. Good luck!

Hi S., I think the problem is 2 things, first thing is allowing him to get up, the second thing is waiting so long to take him out of the crib. When all 3 of my tots were about 18, 19, months we tokl them out of the crib, we took the crib mattress and put it on the floor in their room, line up their stuffed animals, still had their favorite blankets and that's where they slept untill 2 then when straight into a twin bed. We never let out kids sleep with us or in our room so we didn't have that habit to break. to loose sleep for a month because your child won't because your child won't obey is giving him a lot of control. J.

I know its tough... I do!!! But what worked for us... just keep putting him back into his bed. Calmly... just pick him up, tell him it's night night time and put him back. I did this for days... each day, it got a little bit better. Sometimes he'd be screaming in my arms as I carried him back in. But it finally worked. We normally play music and turn on a waterfall soother for my son.... one thing I did too is gave him choices, like 'do you want to turn on the music?' 'Do you want your waterfall soother on?' The one choice he didn't have was going back to bed.
It can get very frustrating... especially the first couple of times when it can seemingly take hours. But it does get better! Good luck!!

First decide what you want to happen, and why he's coming out of his bed. If you want him to stay in - the SuperNanny technique seems most effective and sane from the friends I've talked to.

Totally different (probably not popular option)... let him come get you if he needs you. Maybe put a mat or sleeping bag in your room on the floor if he wants to be closer.

My two cents - my 3+ year old daughter gets up and gets us several nights a week. I walk her to her room and often lie down with her. She curls up and goes right back to bed. I ask why she gets us, and she says she is scared and doesn't want to be alone. She is getting enough sleep and I feel I am there for her when she needs me. Follow your gut. But if you want him to sleep with you or you with him, it's not "wrong".

I think everyone has this problem. We had the same problem with my 3 1/2 year old. His baby brother was coming so we had to transition him, and every night, I read him a book, turned on music, and tucked him into bed. Every night, he got out and came into our room. I took him right back to bed, tucked him in, explained that "big boys sleep in big boy beds" and lost a lot of sleep for about a month. He will eventually learn to sleep in it, just remember it's a huge transition and it will get better! good luck

he's just not ready. there's nothing wrong with keeping him in a crib till 3 or older. try again in a couple months or so, see if that helps.

We also transitioned every child by 18 months into their toddler bed. They will eventually decide to stay in bed and get back their habit of sleeping.