going in to a bed...

[blondiep14]

DS1 is almost 2, his baby brother is 2 weeks old. DS1 has been fab with DS2 but has been playing up at bedtime, never been great but has now climbed out of his cot so we have got him a big bed.
Have made a big fuss over how great it is etc and he loves it in the day but won't get/stay in it at night. He goes absolutely mental to the point where he has started throwing himself on the floor and banging his head when we try and get him to bed .
We would never have tried him in a bed now but it wasn't safe for him to be climbing out of his cot. There is a stairgate on the door to keep him safe but I really need some tips on ow to keep him in bed and calm.
The last two nights I have gone against all advice I have read and sat with him after half an hour of tantrums and Dad putting him back into bed not speaking etc because I can't stand him screaming and hurting himself.
I need this to end! Advice please?!

[teaandcakeplease]

Wow! You poor thing. Can you take the side off the cot, even if it's not technically a cot bed, if it's sturdy enough without the drop side, maybe do that for a while and leave other bed in room and it'll grow on him. Avoid the battle so to speak?

My mum couldn't afford to buy a bed for my brother when he learnt to climb out of his cot for a while, so in desperation put a chair beside it for him to use almost as a set of stairs for a while to get out safely. Not too sure about that idea myself, but there we go. Worth mentioning anyway.

Hope someone else comes along with better advice though x

[BettyButterknife]

You could try a sticker chart? Depends on your child's personality but some people have huge success with what is essentially bribery

We did potty training using a sticker chart with DS and it worked a treat.

Good luck, I'm going to have to do the same over the next few weeks.

[blondiep14]

Thanks, sorry for the delay, DP stole the laptop back!
I don't think he (DS, not DP!) would really get the sticker chart thing tho I might have to consider other forms of bribery. Trouble is, he's so bloody stubborn he may not care!
Teaandcake, we made a bed on the floor last night (essentially for DP) and after a story he fell asleep in there and stayed there all night even after DP left so I think there is def something in that.
It's just so draining!! Ah well I guess we just have to keep going - had hoped for a magic solution but know there isn't one really!!

[teaandcakeplease]

Keep using that strategy for now I'd say if it worked. He's safe and happy.

I bet it's a phase and soon enough he'll want to sleep in it like a big boy, my toddler is the same

[blondiep14]

I sure hope so!!
It's so frustrating as in the day his favourite thing is to make beds and sleep under the covers!!