Hello everyone! My son will be two in March, and my husband and I are having a major problem with him and bedtime. He can now reach the door knobs and open his bedroom door on his own, so now he won't stay in his bed when it's time to go to sleep. I was going to put the child safety door knob covers on his door knob, but someone warned me that this might not be safe since there may be a time when he NEEDS to get out of his room - fires, etc. Has anyone else had this problem? What clever solutions did you come up with? I ended up having to take him to his room over 10 times the other night, after he opened the door and came to my bedroom. I'm starting a new job next week, and I won't be able to spend my nights taking him back and forth to his room. Help! The terrible two's have hit! Thanks!
2007-02-24 05:21:36 · 12 answers · asked by Megan 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Angell_19: This isn't about me not loving my son enough! How could you say such a thing? I don't want him sleeping in my bed every night. That's a bad habit, and not one that I am about to start now! I don't mind a little cuddle time in the morning, but I refuse to let him sleep with me all through the night. Plus, he kicks and squirms and keeps my husband up, and since my husband has to be up at 4:30 in the morning, this will definitely not work. People have different views about letting their children sleep with them, and I'm fine with that. What I'm NOT fine with is someone telling me that I don't love my child enough because I don't let him sleep with me.
2007-02-24 08:26:14 · update #1
I read somewhere where a parent put Vaseline on the door knob for that exact problem but that isn't good if the child needs to leave the room in an emergency.
My son is just over two and was having the exact same problem.
Sometimes I rub his back, recap the day and and talk about the plans for tomorrow. Then I let him know I will be in the house all night.
Has anything changed in his room? Beware of a large toy or piece of furniture that may make a scary shape in the dark.
If he is afraid of something, find out what it is. If it's monsters, invent an anti-monster spray with a spray bottle full of water. Add a slight fragrance if he isn't allergic.
Play classical music on a CD in his room to help him relax.
Don't let him watch TV close to bedtime. Even things that we know are not real and are harmless (such as Teletubbies) can be scary to a child.
You could try giving him some warm milk too. Good luck.
2007-02-24 05:30:22 · answer #1 · answered by Stimpy 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Do you always have to "put him in bed"? It's a bad habit to stay around your child and wait til he falls asleep to leave the room. I think the problem is not just about him getting out of the room, but the fact that he doesn't have a good sleeping habit.
Avoid stimulation:
Turn off all the lights except for the few that you need hours before bedtime. (I'm not a mother, but my younger brother is 14 years younger and I helped) My mother used to start turning off lights right after dinner. Makes him get used to the dark. Make the house as quiet as possible.
Temperature & comfort:
The best temperature to fall asleep is around 18C-22C. Are his pajamas irritating? Is something smelly? Is he scared of anything in the room? Did he eat too much?
Refuse to give him fun:
He might want you to read a book, sing or play. As cute as he might be, don't fall for it. Some kids are angry that parents get to stay up. They want to act like grown ups. My parents does not allow any TV time after 10, so my brother would not wake up to find us having fun without him. Let him know that he's not missing anything by sleeping early.
Adopt a routine:
Most important thing is routine. You must repeat the same thing everynight. Usually takes an average human 21 days to adopt to a habit. Praise for his acheivement.
2007-02-24 05:50:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
What fun times come with the great age of two! Our son is also at this age & sometimes his increased independance can be duanting on us. Our son will stay in his bed when he knows he can not escape the room but I dont like shutting doors. We use a safety gate that is positioned to high for him to climb over but not high enough for him to crawl under..this works for us.
My mom said I climbed anything when I was small & she actually bought a cheap door somewhere & had it cut in half right above the door handle & added a hinge.She could lock the door from the outside & I could not escape but she could hear & see right into my room! Hope this is helpful & you figure out a good way to be safe & get a good nights sleep. They grow up,, sometimes to fast. This will actually all be very funny oneday. good luck.
2007-02-24 07:35:13 · answer #3 · answered by Turtle1 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know its a pain but taking him back to his bed at night is really the best way to do it.
Child door nob covers will essentially lock him in his room. This could make him scared which will make him fight sleeping more, or feel like you don't care. It may also make it harder to night time potty train him in the future.
I would start off by getting him anight light if he doens't have one already. Then make a chart and for every night he sleeps in his bed without getting out give him a sticker and a prize when he fills it up. Be sure to explain to him at bed time he needs to stay in his bed so you can go to sleep and feel happy in the morning.
At this age lots of kids go through this and while it may be a pain walking him back to his bed quietly without a lot of excitment, and lay him down is the best sollution. I know its tiring (as tiring as being up every few hours for night time feedings was) but its just another developmental stage.
Be sure to alternate turns or nights walking him back to bed with your husband if possible.
After a while you will just be able to ask him to go lay back down in bed and eventually will get the picture thats where he needs to sleep at night.
2007-02-24 06:06:13 · answer #4 · answered by slawsayssss 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
our son had the same problem, and we tried taking him to bed, not talking to him, and sitting in the room. did it every night, consistently, for 6 weeks. losing battle. tried baby gate. he climbed over it, while screaming as if he was being murdered. promises, bribes, rewards, music, routines- nothing helped. so, we let him fall asleep on the couch at bedtime, then carry him into bed.i know it goes against all the books (which try to make you feel like a failure as a parent if your kids don't fit their exact mold), but our pediatrician said if that was his biggest problem, then so what.
2007-02-24 05:52:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
yes do the door lock prevention but buy a baby monitor for times like this my 4 year old is the same way so i had to put one of these on the door and put a baby monitor in thhere and i can here every move she makes
2007-02-24 08:08:05 · answer #6 · answered by acstevey1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, for his own safety, you will need to get child doorknob covers. In case of a fire, do you think he will know what to do anyway? You will need to get him out of the room yourself. Get the doorknob covers or do what I did- turn the doorknob around so the lock is on the outside. He might figure out the covers, so I suggest the latter. My son cried at the door for a couple nights, but that's better than him possibly getting OUT of the house or getting into something IN the house and hurting himself or worse.
2007-02-24 05:28:00 · answer #7 · answered by AmandaVP 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
maybe he doesnt like the door shut, have you tried putting a child gate up in the door of his room and leaving a light on for him? Or have you tried playing soft music or a white noise like a fan?
2007-02-24 05:25:59 · answer #8 · answered by DeeLicious 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Stand outside his door after the first time he does it and when he opens it again, take him quietly back to bed. Do not talk to him. You may have to do this for a few nights but it usually works.
2007-02-24 05:36:10 · answer #9 · answered by KathyS 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Well ask your husband to help if your working right?
2007-02-24 05:24:58 · answer #10 · answered by Daddys Doobe 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋