How can I get my 2yo to sleep in his bed?

[woodenchair]

Every night time and nap time he makes a camp by his door.

He is very good about going to bed, cleaning his teeth and having a couple of books read to him etc. We read his books in his bed with him, but after we've gone he spends up to 20 mins moving his toys.

I've posted a picture of last nights camp in my profile.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[gingerninja]

couldn't see the photo.

By camp do you mean he gets out of bed and sleeps on his camp?

[gingerninja]

WC I see it now. Sweet. What happens after he's made the camp?

[woodenchair]

He gets in it and goes to sleep. He's normally crying while he makes it but by the time he's finished he's calmed down. We normally leave him till he's asleep then move him.

I don't want to lock the door because if he still makes the camp I won't be able to get in.

The other problem is that he when he wakes up in the night if I don't stay with him until he's asleep he makes another camp and ends up staying there for the rest of the night.

He does look cute, have taken loads of photos of the different camps.

[gingerninja]

Woodenchair, sounds a bit is he scared or something? Perhaps his little camp makes him feel safe. Is there anyway you could make his bed a safe place i.e. create a home made tent over the bed or somesuch and allow him to make his camp around the bed.

How old is he? Has this just recently started happening and is there anything that could have triggered it? Do you comfort him when he's making it if he's upset?. Personally I wouldn't stop him as he obviously finds the process cathartic. Really interesting, I'm sure others must have experienced this.

[woodenchair]

Thanks gn, it started gradually. He was always really going to bed, story bed and we didn't hear anything from him again. But during the summer he would play for while after we put him to bed. But as it got dark earlier and he couldn't see he opened his door to get some light. He was happy for a while then he with a couple of things and now it's most of his room

In hindsight we should have got him a light but we didn't and now we have this situation.

Sometimes I comfort him, he calms down when we are there, but he gets more wound up when we leave. Tonight he didn't get upset at all, just made his camp and went to sleep.

Don't think he's scared, I think he's trying to drag they day out as long as possible.

[woodenchair]

I like the idea of making a tent over his bed. That may work, I'll talk to DP about it and see what he thinks.

[gingerninja]

Also what about a fun torch so he can make some shadows on the wall rather than playing with toys. Might help. Good luck