ok moved to toddler bed now what?

Question

we have recently move our son into his new toddler bed. before the move he was sleeping through the nights. now that he can get out he is up a couple of times a night. we put a gate up so he can't get out of his room but he stands there and cries. we live in an apartment and i don't want him crying for fear that our neighbors won't be happy with us. any suggestions. thanks for the help. by the way he is 20 months

Answer 1

These are just growing pains. He needs to learn to sleep in his own bed. You need to set ground rules and be firm with him. You can read to him and tuck him in, reassure him that everything is okay. But once he is in bed, he needs to stay in bed.

Answer 2

That's the age of our son when we moved him to a toddler bed, and we lived in an apartment. I TOTALLY know what you're feeling. Here's what I found worked. A SOLID bedtime routine. We started an hour before bedtime. We would play with him for about a half hour....help him wind down his energy. Then for the last half hour, I would bathe him, rub him with lotion, and we would read stories as a family (daddy, mommy, and Dax) Then we would let him say his prayers, and tuck him in. It took about a week, but then he knew that at that point it was time to go "night night" We also put a child protector on the doorknob instead of the gate. If the door is closed, less to be wondering about. You might also try a night light (however I just found that this was another thing for him to play with). Now, we do the same thing, but when I leave his room I ask him if he wants the light off, and he always says "yes, night night mommy." Let him feel like he's in control of as much as you can. He'll get there....and after the week (because he probably will cry) you can have him help you bake cookies or something yummy, to take to your neighbors to say "thanks, and sorry for the last week!"

Good luck!

Answer 3

Unfortunately there's no easy solution to this. One thing is to make a routine. Get a bath read a story tuck him in and then leave the room. If he gets up tell him nicely it's bed time put him back and leave the room. Second time same thing . Third time take him back to bed without talking. If you have a gate up and he's in no danger, when he cries you HAVE to let him cry. It may take a week (or 2), but every time you respond it reinforces his crying. It will get worse before it gets better, but it will get better. I've been through this also, and I know it's hard not to answer his cries, but as long as there's no danger, you have to let him learn to self sooth or you'll be getting up with him what will seem like an eternity.
As for the neighbors, if they have kids they'll understand. If not, they'll get over it.

Answer 4

Hes just going through the change of a new bed is all. Its normal. Just keep putting him back in his bed, not matter how many times a night you have to.

Eventually he will make it through an entire night without trouble and learn that he can sleep in his new bed just as safely as his old crib.

Crying children are part of life, your neighbors will have to deal.

I wouldnt put a gate up between you and him. Maybe in the hall so he cant get to the kitchen or bath. But then he can come to you, and you can put him RIGHT BACK into his bed.

Tell him he has to go to bed in his bed. It'll be a battle for a few nights, maybe even a couple weeks. But he WILL out grow it. this kinda thing is incredibly super normal when switching from crib to bed.

hes not too young, by the way. i was in my own bed by 12 months, so were my brothers, my husband by 15 months... he's not too young. He'd have this same reaction if he were three. Its is the reaction to a new sleeping arrangment.

Answer 5

My daughter has recently been through the same thing, what we done was gave her a bath b4 bed, read her a story then put on a story tape and said "night night love you, good girl", When we walked away she would jump up to the gate and cry, but we put her back to bed and done the same thing over and over it took about three nights till she realised it was ok and now goes to bed at 6pm and looks forward to her book, Is his bed positioned so he can see out of his bedroom door, my lil1 would not settle if she couldn't see or hear any1, repetitiveness is the key and as hard as it is try not to take him out his room unless he is in distress as it will become a play time. Good luck, you will get there.

Answer 6

I think he is scared of his new bed. I believe 20 months was a little early, but I don't know your circumstances. The crib felt secure for him with the bars around. Maybe you can push the bed against the wall and buy a bed side rail. Leave a little night light on and play soft music on a cd player. Eventually the little fellow will understand that he will be ok in his new bed.

Answer 7

I had the same problem ..just keep leading him back to his bed. I know its annoying but there really is no other way. By the way dont worry about the crying ...he is a baby your neighbors will understand. I would just lead my son back to bed like 5 times every night!! Sometimes i would sit with him a bit. After a few weeks of this he finally just started staying in bed. Good luck! Needs lots of patience!

Answer 8

He's just adjusting to the change, it's kind of insecure feeling at first. He'll be ok just get up right away when he starts crying and maybe even lay down with him for a few minutes (in his bed) til he goes back to sleep, you shouldn't have to do this but a few times. Then he'll be back to sleeping all night again.

Answer 9

My sister went through the SAME thing! They put that gate up and he kicked and pulled until it came down or screamed until he fell asleep on the floor. Your just going to have to let him cry this one out. Your neighbors probably have kids and went through their own growing pains. You can't be worried about what people think about you when your doing what's best for your son in the long run. So tell them I said kiss your butt! LOL

Answer 10

Ok this is what we did with my son we told him that he had to sleep in his big bed now because he was a big boy. Also i was prego with #2 so we told him sissy had to use his baby bed and we never had a problem. I would also suggest letting him go to sleep somewhere else then just put him in his bed he will never know that hes there. Good luck though!