Just introduced the "big boy bed" to my 22-mo old son...?

Question

And now he won't go to bed in either the crib OR the twin bed... I put him on the twin, and he gets up and runs around. I put him in the crib, and he throws a tantrum... What to do???

The first night he was in it, he slept right through, easy. But we're on day 3 now, and I think the novely wore off too fast.

Answer 1

Consistancy....just keep putting him back in the big boy bed. He's not going to want to be put back in the baby bed because he knows what freedom is now, lol. When you put him back in bed don't make a big deal out of it by scolding him, just simply lay him back down or it becomes a new game to him. It may mean a few sleepless nights for mom and dad, but I promise consistancy will pay off. We had to put up a baby gate in our son's doorway because he would be so sneaky and hard-headed. When he learned to climb it, we then put a second on top of it. After a few nights he realized he had no other choice but to lay down and go to sleep....Now if we could just get him to sleep past 5:30 a.m.

Answer 2

I just got done going thru this. I waited til my son was a few months over two yrs old. Any sooner---and it would have been bad as my son is a BAD SLEEPER---has never slept thru the night. We went on vacation, he did well in a big bed, decided to give him our old bed (queen--and we bought a king)....and thought it would be good. NOT! I was ready to put him back in his crib---which I knew would have been worse. The only way we got him to sleep was lay with him. And he would not lay there. And eventually my husband or I would fall asleep with him. Then roaming at night was bad, and he'd get up 2-3 times. Finally fed up.....I did this: I decked out his bed. I got him special body pillow (spongebob), fire truck quilt and shams, got blackout blinds for his window, and moved the gate to his door. I read books the first night in his bed, followed by how much of a big boy he is....and how this is his bed, and mommy and daddy cannot lay with him cause it is a big boy bed and his bed...etc. I told him I would sit outside the gate. And I did...with my laptop--working on Yahoo Answers...ha ha. If he came to the gate, I told him to go to bed. The first 2 nights--took him about 15 mins to figure it out. But, he didn't cry. He did lay down--and he kept sitting up to make sure I was at the gate. Another night he played with legos...but when tired--he went to bed. And I did not speak to him after so many times of telling him to go to bed and fortunately when I told him to go to bed, he did. Now, he's easy, I just put him to bed, say goodnight and walk out. The gate is still there of course--which I think makes him feel secure. And he's been sleeping thru the night. I am not sure if it is his age...he was 28 months....or anything else I did....but I did it all at once...same day and made a big deal of it. Every child is different, just be consistent. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Answer 3

Mine did that, I close the door, usually it is within the first minute he gets back up- so I hold the door handle so he can't open it. He cries, but he gets straight back into bed. He shouts for me a few times but he is convinced he cannot get out of the room so there is no point trying. Obviously after the first two minutes I am sitting back in the living room with my cup of coffee. He can get out but does not know that. He then sleeps fine. The next morning I praise him for being a big boy and sleeping in his Car Bed! (his bed looks like a racing car)

Answer 4

well maybe he needs something in his room to keep him calm like a new picture or a speacial toy. tell him stories of famous "big boys" that slept in beds llike this, some1 lkike a character from a tv show or movie. give his room and bed a theme like a color or a place or an event. if this doest work just keep working on it and put him in the crib and ignore his tantrum!

Answer 5

With my eldest, I just started telling her that when it was bed time she had to be in her room. I didn't let her come out of the room. If he doesn't like the door shut you can put a gate on the door. Leave him in there.

If you want to stick with the crib for now, let him throw his tantrum and leave him in the crib.

Answer 6

I wouldn't worry about where he sleeps, just that he gets to sleep. Instead of saying "stay in bed, stay in bed", keep repeating that it is time to sleep, not run around. Then maybe sit on his floor and everytime he gets up, don't talk to him (other than to say, It's bedtime) and put him back on the bed. Keep this up until he tires out and stops getting up.
You'll get a good fight out of him the first night, but by night 3, he'll know that you mean business and he may just surprise you and go to bed without a fight. JUST DON'T PUT A TV IN HIS ROOM! :-)
Have a cup of coffee and good luck! Hopefully, he'll wear out before you do. :-)

Answer 7

Tell him he's a big boy now and has to sleep in a big boy bed. Make the bed inviting by having his favorite character sheets ,add some of his favorite teddy bears. And when he goes to bed sit next to him cuddle and tell him a story. Make it fun and in no time he will love his bed and his new routine.

Answer 8

They have those beds for toddlers that are like conversion beds until they get used to sleeping in bed and staying there. Since you already spent the money on a regular size bed you need to teach him that when you put him to bed he needs to stay there. When he gets up and runs around you need to put him back in his bed and tell him firmly it's time to go to sleep. It might take a couple weeks, but if you are firm and you stand your ground he will learn he needs to stay in his bed when it's bed time.

Answer 9

When we did the toddler bed for our oldest daughter she wanted nothing to do with it for a whole year, I kid you not. I slept with her on our front room floor an entire year, then one day she just jumped right in an loved it. It's all about their timing not ours. She is now 13 years old and normal as could be. Please don't worry.

Answer 10

the big boy bed is a big step, its bigger really than the first poopy in the toilet, you just don't have to do the poopy in the toilet dance and finish it off with an m&m. I would stand firm on the fact that he needs to sleep in his bed, eventually he will give up and everyone can rest easy.