How do I get my almost 2 year old son to keep off the window when he is meant to be in bed?

Question

My son when put to bed climbs out of his bed and onto the window sil. The radiator is directly underneath and I have watched how he gets up (in less than 30 seconds) He won't now sleep in a cot and he will just climb out.

Suggestions please....

Thanks YW

I think some of you have got the wrong end of the stick.
Child is in bed and the bed is not under the window. We are impressed that he can climb on the radiator and then onto the window but unfortunately we can't leave it on all the time (I did think of that already)
He has been told NO in as many ways as possible but this is one stubborn child. He will HAPPILY take a punishment to do as he pleases and we have on many occassions slapped him, gone into him and put him back to bed etc.

Your replies are really great guys but we have tried most things....the piece of wood at a 45deg angle is interesting though....

Keep em coming we need to sort this little terror out before he hurts himself.

Oh we also have the window properly secured.

I have just put son to bed and found him opening the window two minutes later, I nearly pooped my pants. There is a window lock on there but they only make plastic ones from mothercare. I can't even lock the windows as new houses don't have locks on bedroom windows due to fire and the health and safety laws.

I have just put a window alarm on which I have made a point of scaring him with so at least he will jump away from it should he try to open the window tonight. I am going to have a serious think this evening about the best course of action as smacking him is a waste of time. He just carries on with what he wants to do....

ARGHHH .....

Answer 1

Sit just outside his door, and as soon as you hear him climbing around in there, slap the door loudly with the palm of your hand, say no loud enough to startle him, and put him back in the bed. You will need to do this for several days to get any effect (two-yr-olds are stubborn like that-- if it's not their idea, no dice without a little "encouragement"). Eventually, he will begin to believe you are ALWAYS sitting just outside his room, and that you WILL catch him every time he climbs out of the bed. Bring your laundry to fold, your laptop, whatever, and just camp out by his rm for a few days. And perhaps getting him into a "big boy bed" will sweeten his desire to stay in it, but you will still have to monitor him like a mother hawk for a few days. Basically, when he can climb high enough to get hurt, you need to lower his furniture. You may also consider screwing a sturdy baby gate to the window frame to keep him from falling out, or install a heavy lock on the top of the frame. Kids falling from windows is a dangerous and common accident!

Answer 2

You've got some really good answers here already, so don't know if mine will help or not. Anyway here goes:

I am assuming you have done the firm "no!" and put him swiftly back to bed repeatedly as that would be my initial thought.

1. Does he have a light on or door open in his room?
If so tell him if he gets out of bed the light goes off and the door gets shut. Do it .... 30 seconds should suffice It won't take him long to realise you are serious about it.

2. Have you thought of giving him a CD /tape to listen to at night? I have 3 boys and they all went to sleep with music.... anything from classical to nursery rhymes form a very young age, as they got a bit older thy progressed to stories , starting with Noddy/ Bob the builder etc(Waterstones or WH Smiths).

3. Last resort.... most kids that age hate getting their hands dirty don't they? Well, making sure the radiator is off, smear on some shaving foam or hair gel.... he'll hate it. Don't wipe it off too quickly and let him know that's what happens if he climbs up.

I'd be really interested to know how you get on, good luck xxx

Answer 3

Barricade the radiator. Move the bed away from the area if he is using that to climb up as well. Definitely put some safety bars and an extra lock (out of childrens' reach) on that window! Put the child to bed sleepy instead of wide awake, and park yourself outside his door for several nights so you can catch him in the act. He doesn't need spanked, he just needs to know that you're going to be there to stop him EVERY. TIME. he tries to climb up there, to tell him "NO! That's dangerous!"

Maybe you could spend some time at bedtime standing at the window holding him up so he can see out. He may just like the view!

Enjoy that little guy. Keeping him safe is going to take some effort, but our children are so precious-- it's our JOB to do whatever it takes to keep them out of danger. :)

Answer 4

Hi there, I should imagine u have done the whole no and putting back into bed. Why not make a stamp chart for everytime he stays in bed, as well as that if he has a favourite teddy or toy make the window sill into a bed for them, explain if they keep getting up then the teddy will have to come and sleep with Mummy.

Answer 5

Move the crib away from the radiator and window. The crib should not be next to either in the first place due to child safety.

Maybe you just need to get him a new bed and have a side guard rather than a cot. I am going to remove the cot railing away and attach a side guard. I am aware that he will now be getting in and out of his own bed at all hours - but it will pass (eventually).

Answer 6

It might cost a little, not sure how much they are now, but there are monitors for cribs to detect no movement - ones made by AngelCare, to detect breathing. They make the loudest beep if theres no movement in 20sec. You could put on under his matress, and it would beep after he gets out. Other than that, make sure his windows safe.
Then again you could get any kind of motion detecting device thats pointed between the bed and the window, and turn it on, after he's tucked in.

Answer 7

I would take him out of the cot and put him into a big boy bed - at 2 he is too old to be in a cot and the excitement of being in a bed might make him want to stay in his bed and forget all about it

Answer 8

He needs to know that it is not safe, and that when its bed time its bed time. If you're against spanking, try a slap on his hand and then only saying no put him back in bed and walk out. If you talk to him, he'll realise he wins and gets attention. Try getting him really tired, maybe thats the problem. If its daytime, maybe its his way of telling you he doesn't need naps anymore. Try wearing him out at the park or backyard. Kids need tons of excercise and attention.

Answer 9

Don't give him a chest of drawers or a bookshelf, they pull the drawers out and use them as steps!!!
Can you put a wide shelf over the radiator so he can't climb over it?

Try wearing him out and putting him to bed later as he seems more interested in whats going on outside than going to sleep.

Answer 10

put up a security bar on the outside incase (GOD fobid) he falls onto the window and breaks it, atleast the guard will be there to catch him. try putting a little book shelf with his favorite books and read to him for atleast 10minutes to settle him down. i have 3 small children and theres a radiator below their bedroom window also. i warn them of the possibility that they could get hurt from climbing onto it.