Hi all,
We recently had to move our 2 year, 5 month old son to a toddler bed, and we were hoping to wait much longer. He was jumping out of his crib, and we were afraid for his safety. Our son is very active, and he's kind of an immature 2 year old compared to some 2 year olds that I know. He is not a big talker, although his expressive language is getting better and better everyday. Anyways, we are having a very hard time getting him down at naps and bedtime. He wants to take every book/toy to bed w/ him, he wants his door open, the light in the hallway on, etc etc. Then, once we put him down, he's up every minute!! It's so frustrating, as we are used to putting him down in his crib and he'd talk to himself for awhile, and then he'd be out. I really don't think he's emotionally ready for the toddler bed, but there was nothing we could do safety wise. Any tips out there for putting him down? The last couple of nights, it's taken at least 1-2 hours to get him to sleep! TIA!!
Give it a few weeks and be firm. Very firm don't give in it took both of our kids about 2 weeks to get use to the new idea. Something new and fun...but it didn't take long for them to realize that bedtime was still bedtime. The best advice is lay down the law now and stick to it until he realizes you mean business. We also have never had toys in the kids room while doing the transition which I think helped out a lot.
don't go back to the crib...more confusing to the child and you will only end up having the same problems your having now...later when you'd move him back to the toodler bed...
you will have to tough it out and be firm with him every night. we did this with our first and it was just as you described...a nightmare...it took a long time and some very frustrating nights, I want to say we did this same thing for a couple of months, but being consistent all those nights pay off...
the supernanny trick worked well...first time back in his room say it is bedtime, then just keep putting him back without saying anything after that...it will get easier, but it will only be harder if you go back to the crib.
This sounds like our story! UGGH! It's awful and frustrating and exhausting...and for us it went on for a long time. But our little guy decided he wanted to sleep on the floor...so I finally gave up and made him a bed on the floor and that is where he slept for 3 months! I don't know what to tell you...be firm and don't give in though...you can't give in! Maybe more exercise during the day to exhaust him...give him a banana before bed to help him sleep (read that it helps, but don't know).
You could always put him back in his crib and put a crib tent on it so he can't climb out:
http://www.amazon.com/Tots-Mind-Cozy-Crib-White/dp/B00014...
Good luck!
Hi, A....
We moved my son to his toddler bed when he turned two (which was this last June) and it took a couple of weeks for him to adjust to the new room and new bed. The way we handled his "activity" was to have my husband sleep on the floor next to his bed and manage him. It wasn't a time for talking or playing, my husband was silent and only touched him to lay him back down. It took about a week of this to let Jeremiah know that he was expected to sleep in this new bed.
Another thing that we enforced right away was that he was not allowed to get out of bed (or he would be disciplined). It has worked amazingly and he still will not get out of bed (even in the morning) until I call him down for breakfast.
I hope these things that have worked for me gives you a few options and ideas to try out. Let me know how it works for you.
