My 2 yo daughter won't stay in her cot.?

Question

This goes on for sometimes two hours until eventually she gives in and goes to sleep. I have tried putting her in a bed, rubbing her back, singing to her, being firm with her, rocking her to sleep. She thinks it is a game. please help!!

Answer 1

try making bedtime "fun". take a few of her favorite toys (maybe a FEW special stuffies, some books she likes, whatever) in the bed BEFORE you have her go in there. then say something like "all your "friends" are waiting for you to come to bed now!". chances are (this is what my 3 year old daughter does), she will play with the toys in her bed, but eventually fall asleep. so, she might not go to sleep as soon as you put her in there, but at least she STAYS in the bed. the way i do it with my daughter is: i tell her its bed time. we go up to her room, and she lays in bed. (most of the time she whines.) ill give her a quick hug and kiss and tell her "goodnight", then i leave the room. it has worked for the past year, so, its worth a shot.

BTW, DONT take the toys out of her bed. leave those "special" toys there just for bedtime. that way it gives her a reason to want to stay in bed!

Answer 2

I have the same problem with my 2 year old. This may sound mean, but it does work. If she continues to get out of her bed w/o permission, then tell her that next time she will be spanked. If she gets out of her bed, then spank her and let her know, that bedtime is not a game. It doesn't work everytime cause sometimes mine will jsut crawl into my bed if me and daddy aren't having "mommy and daddy" time! It's hard to be firm with them because they are so innocent seeming, but it has to be done or they will never learn. Good luck!

Answer 3

She thinks it is a game because it is one. Don't reward her when she gets out by singing, or anything of the like. When she gets out, don't talk to her, anything, just march her right back into her bed and leave. Even if you have to do this 100 times at night, keep at it. I did this with my daughter, and within 2 days she didn't bother getting out anymore, there was no point. Good luck!!

Answer 4

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. I didn't force my 2 year old to stay in her bed. She tried sleeping all over her room, and came to her own conclusion that the bed was the most comfortable place to sleep.

We just read our daughter stories, say good night and tuck her in and leave. You can't force someone to go to sleep. I would recommend giving your child the freedom to fall asleep on her own, where she wants to.

Answer 5

i had this problem with my son and my advice is persistance show her that your not taking no for an answer, let her know its bed time and if she gets up just keep tucking her back up and reminding her its bed time, she will soon get bored trust me, she is just seeing how far she can push you, whatever you do dont rock or lay with her because you will be doing it for ever and she will have her own way'youre the boss not her you make the rules and shes got to learn to stick to them, if you dont stick to the rules you made how do you expect her to xxx good luck xxx

Answer 6

wow! there are so many post about this...just put her there every night...no matter how many times it takes going back in there and laying her down ,you just have to keep at it...i wouldnt spank for this .....just be firm with your voice..my son is two also and he sleeps in his bed every night...and still sometime he test me out every now and then about where he is going to sleep...and i just reasure him that im the boss..and i win! good luck!

Answer 7

SHE IS OF THE AGE WHEN EVERY THING IS A GAME. BUT A LITTLE FIRMNESS WILL DO THE TRICK ALSO ENJOY THIS TIME. IT WILL FLY IN A WINK.

Answer 8

lay wiht her for 15 minutes then say i have to go now
stay in ur bed and if you dont ______(insert favorit toy) is going to be taken away