Transitioning to the "big boy" bed?

Question

Well it finally happened. My 29 mos old escaped his crib. Afterwards we lowered the mattress to the lowest level (which dropped it about 3" more) and he can still climb out.

His crib converts to a toddler bed so we're all set there but I just don't know how to go about it. Do we just put him to bed like normal in the toddler bed? I know he'll get up and play (even if it is dark!). How do you teach him it's time for bed and he needs to stay there? I've read the advice that says you have to stay in there quietly and just keep picking him up and putting him in the bed until he stays. Yeah right, I know my son will not go to sleep with me sitting in his room.

I've got a baby gate in front of his door for now. I put him in for a nap about ½ hour ago and he's climbed out and was playing, now he's opened the door and has discovered he can't get out! I know he's tired and needs a nap but he won't stay in bed! HELP!!! I just don't know what to do!

Answer 1

Well, I don't have kids but I have had dogs and at 8 or 9 oclock before they go to bed at night sometimes they'll get a burst of energy and run circles...Then they are wore out and will go to their bed or kennel or whereever they sleep.  For at least the first week that your son is in his new bed maybe you should try doing lots of tiring activities in the evening (going for a walk, playing, and then watching a movie that he will fall asleep to.  Once he's realized that nighttime means you're tired and need to get rested he'll adjust better to it, and stay in bed when he's supposed to.  Isn't the reason we sleep is cause we're tired? Well, then just make sure that he is nice and tired and worn out from an active day!  Hopefully this helps, besides even if he does fight it for awhile eventually he will grow and learn the right way, just be patient and understanding.

Answer 2

When I transitioned my daughter to the big bed, I left the crib up and threatened that she'd have to sleep in there if she got out of her big bed.  If it comes to it, there are covers for cribs that make it difficult for a toddler to get out of.  Hope you find a solution soon.  

Answer 3

My little man has been in a 'big boys bed' for about 4 months (he is now 26 months and could rock the cot on two legs!). We bought a racing car bed which is standard single size but has raised sides, so he wont fall out but the bed will last him a bit longer than a toddler bed. The first night he got in and just played with his cuddly toys. He was so pleased with his new bed.

We have a gate on the door but to our knowledge he has never attempted to 'escape'. In the first month he didn't leave the bed at all! Even when I went in in the morning to say goodmorning he would wait until I said 'Up time' before he got out of bed! More experienced mums told me before I got the bed that they don't even realise that the bed is open and they can get out!!! I didn't believe them until I tried for myself!He has more recently got out of bed and got back in because we have found toys in his bed! But if we hear him out of bed and go to the door he scuttles back in and under the covers looking all innocent!

Top Tips:

Keep his room as dark as possible

Good bedtime routine - which you keep the same after the bed arrives

Make a fuss about the bed - let him choose it.

Carry him into room and place in bed at night (I did this for first couple of months and I think this is why he thought he couldn't get out!)

Try not to get tense - if you are he will play on it.

Our son had a tiny room up to recently so I kept the toys downstairs! I realise this might not be practical!

Best of Luck!!

Answer 4

The first week or more is hardest. I had to keep getting up to place my kids in their beds, but eventually they got the hang of it. I never shut there doors as I didn't like the feeling that they were trapped and I couldn't see them. A baby gate is fine, but still the will get out of bed. Just be persistent, he will get the hang of it

Answer 5

Hi,

I think the most important thing to start with is to get your baby into a good sleep routine.  I had massive problems with getting my 4 month old son to sleep.  He would just lie awake and cry for hours, then when he finally went to sleep he would wake every hour or two hours through the night and cry again!  Talk about pulling our hair out .... we were absolutely desperate for sleep!

It was a baby sleep audio program recommended by a friend that finally saved us. We followed the advice and began by creating a baby sleep routine which included bathtime, dimming of the lights, putting James into his crib, final nappy change and then lullabies. We also made recommended changes to his naps during the day and used some of the other recommended techniques. Within two weeks he was sleeping through the night most nights with just the odd night where he would just wake once!

Definitely start by creating a good baby sleep routine though and you could find that solves most of your baby sleep problems.

Good luck!

If you want to take a look, the audio program is at http://www.babysleepsolution.com

Answer 6

Wow..you're lucky.  Both my kids escaped at 18 months.  You have to place him in a bed..which should be a twin at almost 3 years old and you stand outside the door out of sight.  When he gets out of bed..you quietly put him back and keep doing this over and over again. It might take days or a week or 2.

Answer 7

Be sure to tell him what a big boy he is and since he is growing up that is what big boys do is stay in their beds and take their naps and when he does you will reward him with reading him a story or letting him play with his favorite toy. This also goes for night time.

Answer 8

Put away all his toys if you can.

When I started putting my son in a toddler bed at 15 months I made sure all his toys were put away in the closet (which he can't open) and covered his toy box with a blanket (which he never bothered to pull off).

At that time I was rocking him to sleep, but for the first couple weeks he started waking in the night and taking full advantage of his new freedom, coming to the door and yelling for me. I would rock him back to sleep and lay him back in bed.

If you can take away the stimulation he will have no choice but to sleep.

If you want to use the suggestion you read you don't necessarily have to stay in his room. Everytime he comes to the door you can go in there and put him back in his bed and then leave. He'll get tired of it eventually. (of course not before you do though! lol)

Answer 9

My daughter started sleeping her bed at about two years old. It took a little while for her to get used to the idea but she did. About getting out of bed...hmmmm...well mine still does it from time to time! Not very often though, only when she's not sleepy. I just tell her to get back in bed and put away any toys she has pulled out. After a while, it will be a piece of cake.