How do I get my 2 1/2 to sleep in her own bed?

Question

My daughter won't sleep in her own bed. We just moved her from her crib to a big girl bed and she flips out every time I try to put her in the bed. She used to go to sleep so easily in her crib. I'd just simply lay her down, turn off the lights and close the door. I do the same routine but she won't let me turn off the light, or shut the door and the worst of all is she screams uncontrollably, climbs out of her bed and out of her room. I quietly escort her back to bed but after the10th time or so my other kids are crying because she woke them or keeps them from sleeping. It's driving me nutso. WHAT DO I DO???

I have tried the teddy bear idea.....to no avail...she just simply throws it on the floor. She did this in her crib as well. I bought night lights, left the door open, gave her the old blanket to her crib....again she just flips out over and over again. I think what I am seeing here is is that I need to be consistant. I do give in evey night because I am overwhelmed, tired and just plain sick of the whole thing. I give in so that I can just go to sleep myself. I will try the escorting her to bed over and over and not giving in. In addition, I like the idea of the book to read and the barney tape. She loves barney as well. I will try those ideas and let you all know what comes of it.

Thanks!

Answer 1

My son loves to sleep with his sister. She doesn't mind. He is 4 . My husband thinks he should sleep on his own, but he is scared. Sometimes he will sleep on his own, and sometimes he will wake up and climb into bed with her. You could try letting her fall asleep in the family room and then putting her into bed afterwards. She may wake up and find it wasn't so bad, and then praise, praise, praise her so she feels like a big girl who did something just wonderful. Maybe even try a sticker chart for her. Everynight that she does try and stays in her bed for so long, she gets a sticker. Then slowly increase the time and the rewards. Whatever you do, be consistant and pick your battles. Good luck.

Answer 2

I went through this same thing about 2 months ago. Going by the advice of my 2 year old doctor, I bought her a night light and a babygate for her bedroom door. I took the crib out of her room and put her big girl bed in. We let her use the blanket from her crib, so it doesnt feel completely new and she feels more comfotable. We started on a weekend so if the other children got woken up by her it wouldnt mess with school.
We have started putting her in bed 1 hour before the other kids, by that time she was so worn out frm throwing a fit that she would just fall asleep, even if it was in the floor (we didnt move her we just covered her up and left her alone). We done that for about a 3 weeks, then moved to 30 minutes before the other kids went to sleep, that lasted about 2 more weeks, now she goes to bed about 10 minutes before the other kids. It does take some time and some patience but it works, just remember at this age it is okay to let them stand there and scream and throw a fit, because it is just a power struggle with them.
My 2 year old now sleeps all night IN her bed, not on the floor, and we are over the throwing fits becuase it is bed time.

Answer 3

Do you have a railing on the side of the bed, she she can't fall out? Maybe she feels scared, that she can fall. You can get a rail at Walmart for $15 that slides under the mattress.

Another thought is that she may be a bit attached to the sheets and bedding of the crib. Is there a way to make it more familiar to her, by still using the same sheets and blankets that she had in her crib? Maybe it's all too new to her, and she feels like she's in a strange place.

It's a big change for a little one.

When my 13 year old was that age and went into a big girl bed, she didn't want to stay in it. I had a cassette of Barney songs (she loved Barney). The only time she could hear it was at bedtime, and she had to be laying in her bed to hear it. IT was 30 minutes long, and once I tucked her in and said goodnight, I would turn on the tape. If she got out of bed, the tape went off. She would lay there, to hear Barney, and would drift off to sleep before the tape was over. Pretty soon she didn't even need the Barney tape, she felt comfortable in her bed.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Been there.. :-)
The crib gave comfort, the big bed is scary and 'open'.
Once the crib or cot is outgrown, unfortunately most children start testing boundaries. Some are genuinely upset by the change and / or scared.
You can certainly keep putting her back to bed without eyecontact or speech, but you should ideally leave the door open now. The 'bed without bars' can easily upset some children as now they don't feel safe and protected anymore. The room suddenly becomes frightening. My son, at 4, still needs the hall light on and his door wide open, when as an infant he always slept with his door shut, in the dark, without an issue. My 3 yr old girl is just fine.
Try giving her a teddy to cuddle and 'protect' her, it may be enough to settle her.
You can also try moving the mattress (only) into your room for a couple of weeks or so, just to get her used to sleeping in a big bed first. Your presence will ease the transition. Then, once she settles easily there, move the mattress back into her own room since she's all grown up now and can have her own room. We did that with our son when he refused to sleep in a bed and screamed and came out repeatedly for hours every single night. All the 'back to bed' techniques didn't work there as he was genuinely petrified, he wasn't being 'naughty'. After about a month he went back into his own room, although often we had to sit with him for a while so he would go to sleep.
Remember that all children are different, it's all about how you feel and how much you can tolerate. I was happy to share my room for a while, also happy to sit for 5 min or so every night to calm him. He settled happily on his own when he was about 3 1/2, but still needs the light. And his teddy to cuddle. And occasionally, he still goes to sleep in our bed and we carry him back to his once he's asleep. He knows and accepts this. Some children simply are more insecure than others and need some extra reassurance. It won't go on for ever..
Threats and locked doors won't work if your daughter is terrified, only patience and reassurance will. Good luck.

Answer 5

Repetition...keep putting her back in her bed. It's tough, especially since she is waking up your other children, but if you give in she will never stop the behavior.

Try getting her a night light and leaving the door open. I know she is only 2 1/2, but you could try to explain to her how great it is to have a big girl bed; take her with you to the store and help her pick out a night light that she likes. Try to get her excited about having a new bed! This may help to "erase" some of the negativity that she now associates with bed time.

Good luck-I have an 8 year old that went through this-and he had his twin brother in the bed next to him!

Answer 6

I have a son with whom we've had the same problem- but our daughter was way easier. Talk to her about why she's getting up. Get down on her level and see if you can get her perspective. With my son, he and I talked about his bed (during the day), and I found out he really was scared of it as it was new and there was no rail. It took a while for him to get his point across, but once he did, from there it was child's play. We went to Walmart (hated that place until having kids) and looked at the bed railings, we got him a night light, and talked about the fact that it's ok to be scared. I told him a story about when I was a little boy and would sometimes get scared at night, but then I would hug my favorite bear tight, making everything all right. On top of that my wife and I would do the same exact thing-- first time out we'd gently tell him it was time for bed and carry him back in. Next time we would briefly tell him, "time for bed, love you" and put him back in. the next time we'd jsut tell him we loved him and put him back in. Then we'd say nothing, just put him back in bed. It took a LOT of patience, but with us switching off and supporting eachother, it went great! Good Luck!

Answer 7

Try telling her she is a big girl now and is going to sleep in her big girl bed. Also try a night light and possibly a favorite stuffed animal.What the problem is you took away her security.Once you do this you have to stay consistent.Tell her before bed okay it is time to get in your big girl bed.Turn on her night light give her the stuffed animal possibly read her a book. If she keeps coming out keep taking her back.Eventually she will get comfortable.For your sake hopefully sooner then later.Also when she finally does go to sleep the way she is suppose to praise her.

Answer 8

Try playing around bed during the day, so she can get used to it. That way she may recognize its ok and maybe not feel so threatened. Also, maybe start a new bedtime routine. Have a quiet time. Reading a book or other calm activities. Try a night light too.

Answer 9

I dont' know for sure, but thanks for the insight (my daughter is graduating to a Big Girl Bed soon) I guess try to let her pick out new bed sheets and blankets. OR maybe a stuffed friend to take to bed. Make a bedtime checklist (Brush teeth, drink of water, potty, bedtime story, whatever else her bedtime routine consists of) with fun stickers and colors for her to check off each time she completes a task so she can see when betime is coming and hopefully this helps her stay in her bed. Don't take my word for it though, I'll probably be in your postition before long. Good luck to us both!

Answer 10

its flawlessly typical for her to be disappointed with the brand new child and new siblings and all she could be very scared and annoyed and stressed and is concerned approximately her location on your lifestyles correct now. you will have plenty happening actually i might permit her sleep with you 2 and steadily paintings her again into her mattress you did not have got to do it the primary tim, fortunate you. Just steadily "wean" her again to her mattress, A lot of men and women will say simply permit her cry it out I feel that works in so much occasions of instructing a youngster to sleep of their possess mattress, however I do not feel its the correct procedure for you. How lengthy until you 2 are becoming married. you must be ready to get via this in only a week or 2 when you speak to her and make it quite effortless for her. simply placed her again in mattress and take a seat there for a little bit bit reassure her as generally as you have got to and steadily transfer additional away two days at the mattress perhaps two days sitting at the ground ect.