2.5 year old won't stay in bed

[ashersmom]

Hello--

I have a 2.5 year old DS (Asher) and twin boys that are 7 months old.  Two months ago we put the 2 year old in twin bed and gave the crib to the twins.  Someone told us that the best way to help Asher transition to a bed would be to stand outside his door and keep putting him back in his bed every time he got out.  Well, we did this for naps and bedtime for a month straight (1-2 hours each time) and it NEVER got better!  We were getting frustrated and needed to hurry along the process so we could get the twins in bed and found that holding Asher's legs down gently in the bed while he screams to the high heavens cuts the time in half.  So this has become the awful routine.  What can we do to help him stay in bed?  We hate holding him down but I think a small part of him likes it because he barely fights it, but screams at the top of his lungs.  I've tried rewarding him with a chart and stickers, plus a sucker.  It appeals to him, but not enough to get him to stay in his bed.  He also makes visits to our bedroom in the night.  We always just put him back in bed.  Please, does anyone have any suggestions on how to peacefully help our little guy stay in bed???

TIA--

beth

[tylersmommy]

Can you put a baby gate at the door? Also, we've always let Tyler take quiet toys like books or Thomas trains to bed. I could care less if he stays in bed, but he does have to stay in his room. He can quietly play or sleep...his choice.

Any middle of the night visits are always met with a silent march back to his room. I tuck him in, tell him goodnight, and leave.

[Mum to Ella Rose]

We did the baby gate too. (Ella went into a big bed right on her 2nd birthday) In fact we just took it off last night as she asked.  I woke at 7:30 this morning to find her watching tv in the family room.    She has been told she has two chances at night to leave her room, or the gate goes back on, and she must come to us first in the morning or the gate goes back on.  The gate worked a treat really, and we have the same "rules" as Melissa. She can have soft toys and books in her room and even a small light on, but she does have to stay in her room.

[Mum to Ella Rose]

Well, scratch some of that. She just actually asked to have her gate put back on.  I would definitely recommend trying one out! 

[andibig]

we have a stairgate in front of DDs room too.honestly its the only thing that stopped her visiting us in the middle of the night .
shes got toys and books in her room in case she wakes early but shes happy to stay there until we get her up for the day.