If you read my last post you might be thinking this sleeping in the "Pink Car Bed" might still be going well and we are blissful parents. Well, you would be wrong. Things are not so ideal. For the last two days Chloe has refused to sleep in the bed. Mike pulled the mattress to the floor and she slept on that once. But the next day at nap time, she opted for sleeping on a blanket on the floor. This went on for two more days. I felt bad, but then I remembered there are plenty of cultures that sleep on the floor. Nap time today was a joke. Mike brought her home from church to give her a floor nap (no nursery with a green-snotted nose). She did nothing of the sort. Instead, she got out of bed constantly and wandered around. She even wandered through my parents bedroom and out on to their snow covered deck. Barefoot. Needless to say that door is now locked. But that didn't stop her from sneaking out again and again. We finally gave up on nap time after over 2 hours of trying. She fell asleep in the car an hour later while we drove around looking at houses.
Due to stupid Day Light Savings, we started bedtime earlier than normal tonight. (That is, according to Chloe's internal clock.) It took over an hour, 38 trips back to bed, 15 minutes of crying, holding the doorknob 4 different times so she couldn't get out, and trading off "put her back in bed" duty about 5 times, for her to finally fall asleep.
I miss the crib. I'm sure Chloe misses the comfort of knowing how to fall asleep on her own. We miss the sleep that is interrupted all night long by a two year old wandering in our room. It has been bad.
So here is my question. HOW DO YOU GET YOUR KID TO STAY IN A BIG BED AND GO TO SLEEP?
13 comments:
Sorry sister, I haven't much advice for you. We just moved R into her own big bed - she's 3 1/2. And I still spent a good deal of time yelling at her last night. She does sleep in it all night long, though, so don't give up!
Oh, Jodi...I feel for you. Up until about 2 months ago I was laying by Wyatt until he fell asleep. I (Garrett) knew that had to stop because I would usually fall asleep before he did (in his bed)and he would sometimes wander out to find dad. Garrett had had enough and he is so good at being consistent that it worked. Consistency is the key...just keep doing what you're doing - putting her back into her bed, pick a routine. Say prayers, read the same book, kisses and hugs, then walk out and just keep doing it - I know it sounds crazy, but it does work. The first few nights you will be picking her up or walking her back to her bed, but after a few nights of this, she will get it (I hope). Good luck!!
We did everything wrong with Robbie—he was three before he slept through the night. But when Joey was still a baby I found this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Through-Night-Infants-Toddlers/dp/0062734091
(I don't know if that link will work—it's Sleeping Through the Night by Jodi Mindell). A lot of it is what Steph mentioned, consistency and routine. I love that it has a chapter on behavior modification and one on coping strategies for parents. It helped us so much that it's my favorite baby shower gift now. Christine's reading my copy, but I recommend buying it, I used it a ton. I'm guessing the library has at least one copy too. Good luck!!
I was determined to leave Megan in the crib just for this reason - and the new baby would sleep somewhere else. But wouldn't you know that she figured out how to climb out of the crib a few weeks back and so we've been doing the same thing. Just keep doing it - eventually she'll get it. (I'm not saying it will happen quickly though!) Good luck!
Is there a reason that she has to be out of her crib? When Mia was about 2, I decided to put her in a big bed. It was a nightmare- the same thing that you're doing right now. So, I took down the bed and put up the crib again. I just figured it wasn't worth sleepless night when she was a great sleeper in her crib. About 6 months later I tried the bed again and it was great! She stayed in and was happy to be there. Maybe she's just not ready yet- give her some more time in the crib.
We set up a big kid bed and let Lane choose what she wanted to sleep in for several months. After a while, we finally took down the crib and I remember it being a little rocky...but it's all a little hazy! Ha! I guess it just goes to show you that it will all pass and work out eventually! I think the biggest trick is from our dear Mindy: I remember her telling me something about making sure they stay in the bed and wait until you go to get them instead of them getting out of bed. You know, maybe the more I think about it the more I realize that because Lane was climbing in and out of the crib so much (we lowered the side eventually) it was probably easier for her to transition. Anyway, you are doing great, keep it up. Sorry, no magic tricks...darnit! Love you guys!
Oh, so frustrating! I'm in the same boat with some of your commenters so far - Zoe didn't sleep in her bed until last summer or maybe even early fall (she was definitely past 3 y.o.), and for months before then she was in her crib with the sidebar all the way down. In my experience, the half-year marks are so hard, and Chloe's right about at 2.5...and daylight savings SUCKS...and that bed is pretty funky (a top and everything!)...and the move...yeah.
I'd second the idea of going back to what you were doing, if she doesn't absolutely have to be in the bed right now. But if you want to keep up with the bed, I just keep thinking of Super Nanny episodes and how she says that as soon as the kid gets out of bed, go in, pick her up, don't say anything, and put her back into bed. No matter how many times it takes. Good luck, and hugs!
The only this worse than the big bed learning curve is stinkin' daylight savings! (Because you have to do it over and over twice a year.) I am fully ready for some serious venting tomorrow! Hang in there!
If you find the answer send it this way. Bug is driving me crazy!! He broke the slats on his crib support months ago and has been sleeping on the mattress on the floor until January when we had to move the mattress outside the crib to the middle of his closet sized townhouse room and I think we have slept alone twice since then! I'm to tired to get up with him and Jeff claims the same. Its pretty hard having a teenager pushing both ends of the clock (up late, up early (or using the alarm early which I turn off at 5 am!!)) and a three year old. He does claim he wants a big bed we're just waiting to find out... and I keep hoping we'll move and all of that opens up a whole new bag of worms to argue about.
In the past I'd have agreed with just about everyone about putting them back to bed and consistency - but I'm not so sure your pickle or mine is really ready. Shoot! Oh, naps - history unless you go in the car for an afternoon ride or let them fall asleep at the dinner table. Grrr.
miss you.
Go get Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Best Book ever. Also have you given her rules about the bed? We don't get out, etc. Then if she gets out 1st time, give her a hug, say night night and back in bed. After that is the hard part. Putting them back in without talking to them. Just keep your face straight. and walk right out. She'll fight you. She is pushing your limits to see if you will keep her safe in her new world of moving and new bed and all that. Don't let her win this one. She can do it and so can you guys. I know Eriks also had a clock and showed Camie she couldn't get out until Tinkerbell lit up. And as Serena mentioned, my kids did this at first (they don't now) but they had to say mommy, daddy, i'm awake and we would go get them. So try a few of those.Keep up whatever you choose. Think about it, talk with Mike and have a SOLID plan before bedtime starts so you can be consistent and have a vlue what to do next. And lastly, laugh it off instead of letting it get to you. As you have told me 9 million times, keep your emotion out of it. She'll get it. I don't know any adults that can't sleep in bed or poop in potties. This too shall pass my friend. Love you. Sorry so long and bossy! :)
I think that being consistent is the key. It gets old but eventually she will realize that everytime she gets out of bed the only place she ends up is back in bed she get it and quit fighting hopefully! Good luck again it is a nightmare. I think our doctor told us to lock our door Brooke would come and cry and cry by it. But she couldn't go anywhere else because we ha a gate blocking the stairs. It broke our heart but she got it. eventually.
We put one of those childproof doorknobs on the inside of their door. Lots of things to cuddle with help too - blankets, stuffed animals, etc.
Once you figure it out would you come get Jackson to do the same? He's driving us crazy. We've been lazy lately and just planned on running little errands right before bed time so he will fall asleep in the car.
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