BGB Transition Tips!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[~*Nicole*~]

I've moved DD to a bed Fri. night. It is not going well, but she has climbed out of a pack n' play 2x on Wed. for her nap and 2x on Fri. for her nap and so I was tired of worrying about her cracking her head open! I read reviews for the crib tents and was worried that it wouldn't be much safer as others had complained about them being flimsy, the zippers breaking, etc. and they were expensive!

ANYWAY...she is not doing well. At night she needs me to stay with her. Fri. night it took 1.5 hours til she calmed and fell asleep and last night about 40 mins. Today we're attempting her first nap in there (yesterday was a car nap after a zoo trip) and it's been going on about 45 minutes or so and I've been up and down many times. I don't want to keep sleeping in there b/c I don't want to drag on the inevitable breaking of that prop.

I stayed with her originally b/c she had to move rooms and she was scared. The nursery is too small for her bigger bed and so she had to move to a new room (which isn't painted or totally ready for her yet as DH needs to work on it and he works two jobs and has no time!). I did buy her bright pink sheets and bring over as many things as I could from her old room: humidifier, rocking chair, blankets, music, etc. to make it as familiar as I could. We are going to the store today to pick curtains together and maybe a special lovey item that might make her feel better.

SO.....any other tips for helping her get settled into this new arrangement? She is nervous, a bit feisty, climbs out of the bed OFTEN and can stay awake for ages fighting sleep.

Oh, I tried a toddler bed first, but she's such a wiggly sleeper she fell out b/c it's so small. So now she's in a twin trundle bed with a rail and pillows under the bottom sheet making an edge she can't roll over. The trundle comes out from under a taller twin bed that serves as a "rail" along the entire other side and the head is against a wall. She seemed to sleep better in that and not fall out last night!

[LucySol]

Just hopping on if thats ok.We are almost at this point now and i know its going to be a battle to keep her in her room and although its been suggested to me im not a big fan of a baby gate at the door to keep her in.

hoping you get some response so we can all benefit from it!! Dont you just love these stubborn girlies.im worried making the transition to a BGB is going to be the end of nap time!!!

[marlowsmom]

Hi NAmom,
Why did you move her to a BGB?   How old is she?   

[~*Nicole*~]

She is 25.5 months old and she climbed out of a pack n' play twice at the house I babysit at everyday and her crib twice at home. I'm too worried about her hurting herself so I just decided it's time to move her for my own peace of mind.

I recognize that I'm having the same sleep resistance problem in either location but I'd rather work on it in the bed so she is less likely to hurt herself. Of course the resistance is ten-fold with the new bed as she is def. nervous.

It took 2 hours to get her to nap yesterday!!!!!!!!!! I did a LOT of going in and out. And last night I had to sleep in the room with her. I tried leaving her fall asleep alone, but she would get out of bed, call for me and at one point stripped down naked (she sleeps in a diaper although PT during the day as she is wet at naps and night)! I had to go back up and dress her and then get her into bed and me in the other bed and keep telling her to lay down sternly until she did and fell asleep.

I don't want to be trapped in there. Plus, staying during her nap doesn't seem to help at all!

[marlowsmom]

Have you considered a crib tent?   
 http://www.amazon.com/Tots-Mind-Cozy-Crib-White/dp/B00014PLAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287403363&sr=8-1

Or a toddler knob on her door so she cannot open the door?    Considering how long it usually takes your LO to fall asleep under normal circumstances you could put a toddler knob on the door then put her to bed.  My friend went through this with her LO.   She would tell him good night and close the door.   She said he got out and cried at the door for 15 min then fell asleep on the floor.  She wasn't a BW.    She said he eventually got the picture and stayed in bed.

You could also try a BGB party.   Invite some family and friends over and make it a big deal that she is sleeping in a BGB.   If you haven't already, let her pick out her bedding.  I found when I transitioned my then 2.5 yr old I had her cousins come over for a BGB party and they helped make a big deal of it.

[~*Nicole*~]

We don't have many close family/friends with young LOs so the party idea is kinda out the window.

I read reviews on the crib tents and a lot of people said they were flimsy and the zippers broke and their kids figured out how to open them, etc. etc. They were expensive for the negative reviews and I was swayed to just move her.

I have a gate up at her door so she can't leave.

She did pick out a Dora blanket for her new bed.

[marlowsmom]

When we did the party for my DD1 her cousins were 10 and 14 yrs old so LO aren't a necessity.    Just a couple of people will do the trick.   All she has to do is show off her new BGB.

I think your shopping trip will be good for her too.   Maybe reconsider the party once her room is complete.   

Re: sleeping on the floor. 
I remember seeing this on GMA
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/video/bedtime-kids-sleep-own-bed-9996318

[~*Nicole*~]

Thanks for that link!

That's kinda the approach I'm having to take I guess. I'm staying with her at night for now but then I'm going to stop and see if she can do it herself.

[marlowsmom]

Would you consider taking her to the mall and getting a brand new stuffed animal for her to sleep with at night?   Maybe build a bear?

[kayra]

Hi Nicole, sorry that the transitions turning out to be difficult. It looks like it's a combination of sleep issues, new bed and new room. Have you tried putting her in a sleeping bag, which would make it relatively harder to get out. It's by no means impossible but it is a deterrent. Can you just stand by her door and talk or sing to her? Kind of like gradual withdrawal?

[~*Nicole*~]

I used to use the sleeping bag/sack thing in her crib so she couldn't climb. I'm afraid to use it in the bed b/c if she does try to get out it might hinder her and she'd more likely slip and hurt herself than get out gracefully. If you are meaning a real sleeping bag thing...I don't think she'll stay in it. I think she'll just kick at it and get out. She seems to HATE having blankets on her these days.

I'm planning on trying a GW or WI/WO type plan today/tonight. I'm not sure which will work better for her. She used to not sleep with me there, but IS falling asleep at night with me there now. So GW may be better for this transition.

[marlowsmom]

Just a thought, I had another friend that literally sat outside her DS door for a few nights.    Everytime DS would open the door she would quietly escort him back to bed.    After a few nights he got the picture.

[~*Nicole*~]

For nap today, I left her room and sat at the top of the stairs with my back to her door after each time putting her back into her bed. She would get out, I'd go back in, put her in bed, walk out and sit at the top of the stairs. No eye contact and no talking. She cried and kept getting out, but started staying in the bed for longer periods each time. I had to leave, unfortunately, to get a flu shot and left DH to take over for me. He continued and she did finally stay in bed and go to sleep. Of course it was late and then he had to wake her from that nap so she wouldn't sleep so late in the day. I will be trying the same method tonight. I hope it goes well. This will be the first night I am not planning to stay with her. I told her already and she said "Okay, mommy." with no issue, but of course it will be different when bedtime rolls around!

I feel like this way I am not leaving her to cry alone, but I am not engaging her and I am showing her I mean business. I hope it doesn't take hours!

[marlowsmom]

Good luck!  I think that is the best approach. 

[kayra]

yes that sounds like a good approach. Another thing I've been doing with DS is saying I'm just going to the toilet, or I'm putting the washing machine one, going to make some tea, somehow that seems to distract from the fact that i'm leaving him.
I hope bedtime went well!