anyone have ideas to keep my 2 yr old in bed?

Question

she goes down great, says she wants to go, but then is up over and over playing in her room! She also is beginning to take a lot of stuff to bed, toys, hats, even a plush chair! I can't just strip her room every night, anybody have any tips? And please nothing mean, I'm very naive about little ones, but trying my best! Thanks!

Answer 1

I'm going through the same thing with a 2 and a half year old...
We put up a child gate in his doorway to keep him in his room... that's the first line of defence... from everything I've read, it's ok if they get up and bring toys to their bed. It helps them feel secure. Eventually, they will be more interested in comfort than security and bring less to bed.
My son has been known to bring virtually everything that isn't nailed down to bed as well... leaving JUST enough space to fell asleep... and I'm ok with that, as long as he goes to sleep.
So, don't worry about cloections in bed,,, as long as they are IN bed!

Answer 2

I don't have a child, but I have babysat my niece since she was 1 1/2. Now she is 3 and has been doing that since she was two, as well. Just let her do it, it just means she isn't quite tired enough to go to bed yet and doesn't feel like lying down while she waits. When she is tired she'll stop playing and go to bed. The only affect of her going to bed later is sleeping in later, which is better for you anyway. If you have to get her up for any reason, it's O.K. she'll make up for the loss of sleep during her nap.

Answer 3

You have to be consistant. It might take all night... for a few nights, but it WILL pay off in the end.

Put her in her bed and tell her it is time to go to bed. You might read her a story and give her a favorite toy and tuck her in. The second you hear her up, go in there and put her back in her bed. Tell her "NO!" firmly. Do this each time she gets up. Do not cut her any slack. You do not have to be mean. You can tell her you love her and she needs her sleep. Just make sure that you are not giving in and letting her stay up.

Answer 4

I think the thing is to not be too rigid about this. My son was like this as well. He was allowed to play in his bed as long he was laying down and being quiet. I would read a couple of books to him and then leave him alone in his bed. He was usually asleep within an hour. It is VERY important that your child has the same routine every night before bedtime.

Answer 5

You'll have to go in her room every couple of minutes and just make sure she's in bed, without toys! Everytime she gets out of bed, make her get back in! Be consistant! Let her know that "we don't take toys to bed with us."

Do you have a routine? If not, start one so she'll know when bedtime is coming.

I have a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, they sleep in the same room...they have a consistant routine, and they go to bed fine!

Or maybe your child is just going through a phase! Good luck!

Answer 6

Make a schedule AND STICK TO IT!
Honestly, that's the best thing. Don't let her go to bed early,or stay up late. Get her up at the same time every morning. I'm a nanny, and I'm currently in a household of a 10month old, a 2yr old, and a 7yr old.
The 2yr old goes to bed every night after her bath and getting her sippy cup of milk. She's in bed at about 7:15PM. I get her up by 8AM, if she's not up at 7:30AM with the younger one.
They have a nap after lunch for about 2 hours.

This may or may not help you, but this is what works for us. If anything, make a schedule... one that fits what you do. And stick with it. It may take a few weeks to get used to it...

Answer 7

Tell her it is bed time and read her a story. (don't lay in bed with her just sit beside the bed or that will be another habit to break) After the story say goodnight and go. If she gets up and comes out of her room bring her back and tell her it is bed time and put her back in bed. Do this like a million times and she will get the hint. Good luck!

Answer 8

Girlfriend I know what you are going thru I have a 3 year old daughter she is the best little angel except when it comes to going to bed. She wants to take every bear and doll she has to bed with her and gets up every 45 seconds comes in my room gets on bed and starts jumping. I really don't have any advice for ya because I need advice myself LOL!!! I guess good luck to us both!

Answer 9

We made our 4 year old pick out one toy (stuffed animal) to sleep with. Anything that we found in his bed the next morning..we took until the next day. We also always made sure he had a sippy cup of water on his night stand & he had pottied before bed. Everytime he got out of bed..we took him straight back with as little talking as possible. He does pretty good now..but the trick is finding what works for your little one.

Answer 10

Try keeping her up for an extra half an hour each night so the tiredness wears in more until she's back to routine. Also explain to her simply "huny if you want to go to bed, it means sleep time for you and a teddy..no more can fit in this bed. There is you and teddy." Also read her a story every night, it will help her sleep.

Answer 11

you said no mean responses and thats all you got so far! im sorry. im 17 and i have 5 sibling. 2 of them are 5 and 3 year old boys. the three year old wants to go to sleep with "things" as well. we just let him. he has to have a glass of water every night and always comes to me at night(since his parents are down stairs) and wants to play! he'll get up at 3:30 am and want to have some cereal and watch tv. the only way i can get him to go back to sleep since i have to work next day and every one is asleep is i tell him if he goes to sleep we will go to the park after park. i know sometimes i may not be able to do that but usually it works. i would just let her go to sleep with what ever as long as its not going to hurt her while sleeping and with her playing at night ask the doctor about that. we got something that helped the kid sleep better at night. good luck!!