My toddler keeps getting out of bed - any solutions gratefully recieved!?

Question

I do not promise to be awake to read them thought! I am expecting bairn number 2 in January, so I thought id best get him into a big boys bed now - hes 2 1/2 years old. I took the sides off his cotbed. Im not prepared to lock/trap him in his room as I have had suggested to me. I have been doing the 'take straight back to bed' thing. I had a bit of success after a week, but now im 3 weeks in, the last 2 nights he was up and out about 15 times between 2.30am and 5.30am and im knackered!!! Anyone know how long this technique takes before it works?????? GIVE ME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL PLEASE SOMEONE! ;o)

Thanxs for your help so far - just to add, he cut his daytime nap at the same time I took him out of the cot although he sometimes has 20mins in the car. And yes, hes always been an early riser (between 5.30 - 6am) but hey theres early and early!!! He goes to bed about 7 - 7.30pm.

Answer 1

There is always light luv, always. First of all make sure he has his last food and drink at least an hour before he goes to bed.
One thing I found really good with my daughter was getting her involved in bedtime. We went out and bought her a big girl night light that she got to choose (from 3 choices that I picked out first) then she got to have a special good night book, one of the big ones with loads of different stories in them.
I know people say that you shouldn't change the routine that you have already set in place, but I am a great believer in making slight changes to show that they are moving a stage. My girl was so proud that she was having big girl bedtimes that she was fine from the third day, but it can take up to a week to happen. I also bought different big girl bedding.
Keep sticking with your back to bed technique, but remember that eye contact and conversation is a bad thing! Good luck with the new baby as well!

Answer 2

You know sometimes you have to take the easier option. I have been where you are now and no sleep doesn't do anyone any good. Both my children are autistic so sleep doesn't come naturally anyway, but you cannot cope with the daytimes if you are tired, and then you end up in a vicious circle.
The way I did it was to put my little boy into bed, put a baby gate on and shut it and let him scream himself stupid for two hours every night for a week. I used to sit in the kitchen with the door shut and I would be nearly howling, but it only took a week.
Now with my little girl I have the same problem (she is 4) and tonight we have had to chop the door in half so she can't get out but we can hear her if she needs us.
Sometimes you know you have to be cruel to be kind, but you cannot be awake all that time when you are so pregnant - you have both children to consider now and yourself.

Answer 3

I agree with the people who recommend sticking with the plan of putting him back in bed.

I think the key here is to provide no reaction or reinforcement. The first time you have to put him back in his room, say "it's time to go to sleep honey." The next time, you put him back, and don't say *anything at all* to him.

I did this with my 2 year old daughter (now 3) and by the fourth or fifth time that night she was getting back into bed rather than have me do it for her.

Sometimes it just takes longer, though.

Control is a somewhat related issue. Looks like your boy has figured that he can control when he goes to bed. Perhaps if you give some control over some little things (i.e., what PJs to where, whether to have waffles or toast for breakfast, etc.) he'll have less need for that.

Answer 4

Sometimes being a parent means being tough! I think it is wonderful that you are trying to stay with the "take back to bed" method. I did the same thing for a month before I was too tired to even get up. My husband and I switched back and forth until one day we figured out that this was going to continue until we stepped up and made it perfectly clear that we were not going to accept him not sleeping in his bed. What we tried was keeping him up, no naps in between. By the end of the day he was tired! We layed him in his bed...and of course he would get up.....but we stayed behind his door, when he opened it we told him that it was time for bed and put him back in. Yes, we had to continue that for a couple of rounds but he did get the picture. After about the third time of opening the door I think he figured out that we had no plans on leaving so it was better to just lay down. He didn't always sleep in his bed, one night he slept right in front of his door (where he could see our feet), but it did work. Don't stay by the door the whole night.....just long enough for him to fall asleep. Good luck!

Answer 5

Each child is different and as the parent you have to maintain a firm resolve to show discipline. There is no real timeline that you can go off of but just know that your perserverance will pay off. My daughter was 3 when she started doing that and it took about 4-6 months not consecutive nights mind you but the child will see that you are in control and this is the normal pattern of behavior. Keep Strong!

Answer 6

First, does your child still nap during the day? He might be getting up frequently at night b/c he's not tired. (My children started giving up naps, occasionally, around 3.) Second, be sure he knows the rules and have firm, consistently applied consequences for disobeying those rules. Kids respond very quickly to boundaries, if they KNOW those boundaries are not to be messed with. In addition to firm rules/consequences and ensuring he's tired, a good bed time routine helps as well. If he's just an early riser (I have one of those, too) give him an alternative activity besides waking you (i.e. toys in his room, etc.) He'll get it, but the key is consistency and really wearing him out during the day.

Answer 7

You could try introducing a sticker chart each night your toddler stays in his own bed all night he gets a sticker if he gets say 7 stickers in a row he gets a treat like a small toy or something, This worked on a young cousin of mine but he was slightly older than your child.
There is also a clock which you can buy, it looks like a bunny and you set it to open its eyes are open, the child is allowed to get out of its bed if the bunny is awake, if not it has try to get back to sleep (worked with another cousin closer to the age of your child)

Answer 8

If your aim is to teach your son or daughter becomes proficient in examining both money and lowercase letters. Then you definitely will require this program, Children Learning Reading from here https://tr.im/1r84J .
Children Learning Reading shows your son or daughter phonemes therefore they've a really strong basis in the skills which will allow them to be on to be always a prolific reader. With Children Learning Reading will even focuses on developing on the abilities discovered to permit your youngster to get their studying abilities to another location level.
With Children Learning Reading is easy to show your child how exactly to read.

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

I would get a child safety gate and put it in his door way. Do you hear him cry when he gets up? If you do and you know the difference in cries then I would let him stand in his door way and cry. He will eventually get the picture that mom/ dad are not going to come and he'll go back to bed.. I know it sounds harsh but he will learn that he needs to stay in his bed. Stick with it and hopefully you get a goods night rest soon before the new one arrives.....