How to keep my 2 1/2 year old in bed at night and nap time.?

Question

She gets out of bed within 5 minutes of being alone in her room to play with her toys. We had to lock her dresser in her closet, she used to pull out all her clothes. I have tried telling her that she will get a spanken if she doesn't stay in bed, I have tried spanking her, I have tried sitting with her, I have tried just about everything. Anyone else have any ideas?

I have tried to cut out the nap completely and she is so tired she falls asleep on the couch, and at bedtime she is telling me she's tired and laying down before I put her to bed it's just once she's in her bed she gets a second wind or something. She will stay up playing in her room till 10 every night no matter how late I let her stay up.

Answer 1

That's a big problem...When my sons where little,(a long time ago) I use to lay down with them, after a few minutes they went right to sleep....the more you keep putting them back to bed the more wound up they get,
and so do you...try it, it really does work...
Good Luck & Patience my dear.

Answer 2

I went through this exact thing with my 2 year old, and let me tell you, there is not an easy answer. This is what I have done, but bear in mind that what works for one kids doesn't always work for another.
My son used to empty his chest of drawers every time he took a nap. It was exasperating because he had hand me downs in there as well, so it was a huge mess! I would just ignore him and let him play. I was consistent in putting him to bed at the same time, and getting him up at the same time. When I would come get him, there was always a huge mess. I tried a few things, but nothing worked until I used the "naughty step" or "time out". He wouldn't stay there, so I had to keep on putting him back. Sometimes this process took an hour, but it paid off in the end. He learned that I was serious about the naughty step. After that, I would make him clean up the mess, or he went back on the naughty step. He would just throw the clothes back in the drawers, and I would fix it later. The important thing was to teach him that there are consequences when he does something wrong.
This whole process took 2 months, but now he sleeps wonderfully! The same thing works for bedtime. We have a bedtime ritual, and then I put him in his room before 8pm. There are no distractions in there except the chest of drawers. The toys are in a chest that I take out of his room. I made sure the room was very dark, and then leave. If he doesn't sleep for a while, that was okay. The important thing was that I was consistent.
He started opening doors a couple months ago, it was a real nuisance keeping him in his bedroom. I could have just kept on putting him back in bed, but I chose the easy way out, by putting a child proof door knob on the inside of the door so he can't get out. Some people may not agree with the doorknob thing, but I still listen to make sure he is alright, and I am available if he screams.
Good luck, and keep up the hard work. It is very stressful and exhausting, but it will all pay off!

Answer 3

First you have to be persistent. If you say you are going to punish her, you have to stick with it for more than a few days. They will test you. I always let my kids take one book to bed to look through at naps and bedtime. They would usually look at the book and then go to sleep.

Answer 4

I hate to say it but your daughter probably is ready to give up her nap. I had a similar problem with my daughter when she was two..... I stopped napping her and voila, problem solved - she was so tired at bedtime she fell right asleep. I had to move her bedtime up because she was so tired she wanted to go to bed earlier. Its up to you if you want to try it one day and see what happens at night. I know its hard to give up naps, I didn't mind because my daughter was my third and I had two other kids that weren't napping anyways. Good luck!!

Answer 5

hi maybey you ned to look at what your daughter is doing before she goes to bed , my daughter is also two and a half but goes to bed brilliantly but only if i read her a story before she falls asleep which i enjoy doing, if your daughter is watching telly or playing before she is taken to bed then she will still be hyperactive and want to play, my advise is before her bedtime have a hour of winding down time, dinner, bath, story, bedtime. also having this kind of routine will allow her to understand when it is time for her to go to bed. also give her a warning 10 mins before bed time then 5 then two then 1 then she will be able to prepare herself to go to bed. it is always best in my oppinion to allow children to know when it is time to do things with warning of how long they have left, as for the spanking i think that should stop i do not agree with it and also do think it is fare for any child nomatter how good or bad to go to bed feeling upset. hope this helps