Spirited toddlers change to big bed

[Naomi72]

It all blew up last night.... our toddler was going to bed every night at 7.30 after one nap each day and then last night he suddenly worked out how to get out of his own bed  ..... we were just glad that he didnt hurt himself.... DH out of fear took the cot out of his room and in the meantime he'll have to sleep on his matress on the floor.
  Is it possible to get him used to sleeping on his matress whilst we organise him a big bed? Now that he no longer has a cot he's enjoying the freedom but woke us up at 3am this morning and getting him to sleep was a fight! He now thinks that he's meant to sleep in our bed!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
  HIs routine now is
5.30/6am up
6.30 bottle
7am breakfast
10.30 mid morning snack
play til 12
12pm nap for one hour
1pm lunch
play
5pm tea
6.30 bottle
7.30 bed

unforunately I've been hard pushed to do anyting with him lately because I'm 8 weeks pregnant and have morning sickness!

[speechie]

Hugs- it is scary to have a spirited toddler up out of bed in the middle of the night! I think I would do the following:
-do major safety check of his room, so if he does get up in the night, there's no danger to him- outlets, shelving secured, windows safety latched, etc etc.
-use mattress on the  floor until the new bed is in place.
-talk with him about his "NEW" bed and how he sleeps in "his special big  boy bed"
-curb any snuggles in your bed at other times in the day/evening until it's well established at night that he ONLY sleeps in his bed.
-as soon as he comes into your room, you must be lovingly firm that he sleeps in his bed. Return him to his bed EVERY time, even though you're half asleep! Better yet, get DH to help do it while you sleep/rest.
consistency is the key- and it should get better faster if you don't give in- Hugs, courage, and wisdom!!

[clh]

What Cathie said.  We made the switch to a mattress on the floor at about 22-23 months.  It was a struggle for a few days, but once the novely wore off, it became much better.  And James was/is a spirited, too.  {{hugs}}

[1sttimemamma]

Hi all. I was just looking at this because I have a almost 21 month spirited boy and I fear the day he learns how to crawl out of his crib. So - is it not ok to buy one of those tents that goes over the crib so they can't crawl out? I honestly don't know if that is considered mean/unsafe/etc...

[clh]

Ours was b/c we needed the crib for #2, not b/c #1 was climbing out.  I'm afraid I don't know anything about safety, etc of the crib tents. 

[speechie]

I have a good friend who used the tent successfully! I wanted to use a tent w/Nick, but his crib is sleigh style and doesn't work with a crib tent.
I don't think there is anything wrong with them, especially if you can get your LO excited about it!

[nataliabaez]

Hi, I have a similar problem...... our 19 month old daughter Renata is a spirited toddler too. She used to go to bed at 7:30pm and wake at 7:30am, until 2 weeks ago when we made the trade from crib to bed.   We HAD TO make the change because she figured out how to climb out of her crib and on to the furniture... it was too risky

She is very excited about her new big girl bed and knows how to climb up and down from it without falling, but she now wakes up EVERY NIGHT and wanders around half asleep looking for something to play with. I guess it has something to with the fact that we haven´t gone out because we live in Mexico City and there are restrictions about the swin flu. But still, we try to keep her busy during the day so she doesn´t get bored.

We do not let her in our bed and always take her back to her own, but putting her back to sleep is really hard, she´s too excited and we are both too tired (her Dad and me).

Last night she went to bed at 7:45pm, same rutine as every other night. She woke up at 4am, I took her back to her room and stayed with her till she could finally go back to sleep... but that took 2 hours! I can see she´s sleepy, yawns a lot and sucks her thumb, but she just wont fall asleep! I´m exhausted!!!! So is DAD! And she is really tired during the day because of this too. So now we are a grumpy family of 3!

Please someone help! We can´t continue like this. What should we do?

Natalia

[1sttimemamma]

Thanks Speechie! However, now that I think about it, I don't know how he will take the change. He's a little cautious about new stuff these days - maybe I should invite his friends over and have them hang out together in the tent?

[speechie]

Natalia- I'd tuck her firmly back into bed, then say, "mama's going to sleep, it's the middle of the night", then leave, go back to bed. Have DH take a shift the next night, so that you both get a break. I definitely would repeat repeat repeat, until she gets the message that there is no option other than to stay in bed, even if awake...

1st time mama (don't remember your real name) sorry...I think it's a great idea to introduce it slowly- be it through a fun experience with friends, reading about "camping", going through a store and showing him the real tents for adults...etc. Getting your child used to the idea first if your LO is cautious

[Naomi72]

At the moment I have DH volunteering to lie next to him every night until he goes to sleep...... I hope that wont make things difficult :O but seeing that I'm currently exhausted by 8 pm each night it seems like our only option..... HIs room is safe we have blankets around his bed just incase he rolls out!...... Last night he came into our bed at 4am even without a night light....
  It amazes me how strong willed this boy is!

[nataliabaez]

Thanks Speechie for your advice, we´re hanging in there! Last night she gave in after 15 times of getting her back to bed... she didn´t go to sleep right a way but I think she gets it, she has to stay in bed at night. Today she woke up at 6am, came into my room and said "Sun is out mama" ..... as if asking for permission to go and play out of her room =)

Naomi: hope things are also doing better at your place. Congrats on baby number 2 by the way. I´ve heard that sometimes big brothers start to act out when mommy´s pregnant, but it wears out, so hang in there. I think the idea of DH to lie next to him is great, that way your boy will feel safe and eventually he´ll be able to go to sleep all by himself... it´s like taking him by the hand to his classroom the first day of school, and then letting him go little by little.
Good luck!

[Naomi72]

Thanks Natalia

I really hope the swine flu problems ends very soon so that your little girl can go play outside... Its very tiring entertaining little ones indoors!