BabyWhispererForums.com
SLEEP => Sleeping For Toddlers => Topic started by: SarahB on May 11, 2006, 10:43:23 am
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My DS is 2 and a half. For about the last 2 months now he just will not stay in his bed. We rent a house in Auckland and the living areas are upstairs and the bedrooms are all downstairs. His bedtime is 8pm. After putting him to bed he just wanders straight back upstairs again. He is doing this for over 2 hours every night. First time I pick him up and say Bedtime Darling and put him back in his bed.... second time I just say Bedtime and try again..... every time after that I just say nothing and keep putting him back into his bed...... really I feel like screaming at him but I dont. Its driving us nuts. He looks really tired but he just fights it as he wants to be upstairs with us. What else can we do to get him to stay in his bedroom and go to sleep?? He was textbook baby and textbook/spirited toddler.... he is a lovely lad in most other ways and a joy to be around.
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Try putting a baby gate at his door way. That way he can't get out but isn't shut in. If he cries, though, you need to be sure to go to him.
You might also try standing right outside his door and stopping him from going upstairs. Everytime he comes out, just lead him back in without saying anything. Eventually he'll get the idea.
Other than that, I don't know - Henry's not there yet so I haven't had to deal with it.
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Just another tought since you mention he wants to be upstair with you. Can you try, at least for 3 nights in a row to keep up with the bedtime word and putting him back to bed but also as Sarah suggested, waiting outside his room AND keeping upstairs in the dark? it'll be boring but you and your dh can keep things silent so ds will see he's not missing any fun. I know sometimes we feel like banging the walls but it's so good you've got to keep your cool. Persistance is they key. He's just testing where the limits are and probably thinking he's missing something out there. You just reassure him that you and daddy are going to bed too. He'll get it if he sees everything's in the dark and the house is quiet and probably will stop trying to join the fun. HTH and good luck!!!!!!!!!!!