Guidance needed for transfer from cot to bed

[goandshowdaddy]

Hi,

We took the sides down from DS's cotbed last night and I'm already struggling with how to deal with him constantly getting out of bed before he eventually falls asleep.

He's 2.2 and we decided to move him into his bed after he climbed/fell out of his cot recently.

I tried the usual bedtime routine but as soon as I left the room he got straight out of bed and came out. I did the Supernanny thing - just keep putting him back in bed - for twenty mins but then got fed up (am 33 weeks pg and a little bit short of patience at the minute!). DH came up to take over and ended up shutting the bedroom door and DS cried himself to sleep (he can't open the door himself). I don't particularly like having the door shut and would prefer a gate - not sure why I feel this way though - do you think it's OK to just shut the door? I feel worried that he'll be scared and feel locked in - but is this any different to having a gate on his door?

He was OK once he was asleep last night - only fell out twice and went straight back to sleep once I'd put him back in!

Tonight, I ended up sitting in his room with him until he fell asleep but I really don't want to start doing that as he's always gone to sleep really well on his own before.

Any tips or advice? Also opinions on closed door or gate on doorway? Thanks.

I share your pain! My DS was 2 last week. We changed his cot to a cotbed a couple of weeks ago. We have a top mattress which we leave folded up next to his bed in case he falls out. He has always had a stairgate in the door way to his room. We soon tired of putting him back to bed. He just wanted to explore his new territory! We check on him regularly but usually find that he's fallen asleep anywhere but the bed a couple of hours later!( I am quite confident that his room is safe but he is a brilliant climber and likes to stack toys to achieve greatest height so i do keep a close eye on him).We carry him to bed and that is where he usually stays until the morning. i wouldnt shut the door as i like to be able to hear him and peek in at him.
Good Luck

Thanks welshandproud! Good luck to you too

do you use a bed guard?

also bribery works a treat- no biggies just 'if you go to sleep like a good girl tonight you can brush your teeth with the electric toothbrush tmrw'

Hi chloebe, no I haven't got a bed guard. Wasn't going to tbh as I'm not too worried about him falling out (it's a very low bed).

Why, do you think it would make him feel more secure and so keep him in bed long enough to fall asleep? Or did you just mean to stop him falling out?

Not sure he understands enough for bribery yet but willing to give it a try!

both my children did this once the cotbed was made into a bed, it went on for a couple of weeks (I mean the freedom must be sooo exciting for them) so bear with it he WILL get bored and eventually stop doing this, lots and lots of patience needed. (put a couple of pillows on the floor for when he falls out of bed (this always happens and again stops eventually
good luck)

Have you got stairs in your house? For some reason my dd (2.2) likes to come out of her room soon after I've said night night and play about on the landing for 20 minutes or so before falling asleep on the floor. We have a stairgate on the top of the stairs.

We did do the supernanny thing at first and it worked for a couple of months. But then I couldn't be bothered doing it any more and just let her pootle about up there. She would be upset if she couldn't get out of the room, but for some reason doesn't mind being confined to the landing! I have no idea why.

Thanks - will have to just put up with it and tell myself it's just another phase!

Will do the pillows on the floor thing too - feel a bit mean I haven't done it already

Besom, yes, we've got stairs and a stairgate. I could just let him run around the landing I suppose - maybe I'll try that tomorrow night - something to look forward to!

I used the shutting the door threat - as I recall I only had to actually do it once, maybe twice for about five minutes - then I came in and said "OK, the door can be opened again if you stay in bed". It did make me feel like the meanest mummy ever because DD got very upset, but once she saw I meant it it worked like a charm in future. The good thing is that it puts the responsibility in their hands - they can go to bed with the door open, or run around and get shut in - their choice.

Hence if you've already done the difficult bit and let him cry himself to sleep I'd capitalise on it and have a "grown up talk" about choices.

i was going to say same as dilysprice, it might be mean but if he doesnt like the door closed there is your answer - give the choice either stay in bed or ill have to close the door.
i do similar to this for my ds, altho he actually prefers me to close it because i think he cant control temptation of coming out his room all the time otherwise, so he doesnt cry if its closed, but until it is he will keep coming out. so it doesnt have be really a mean threat.. just depends how they feel about it though

Have you tried getting him a duvet cover and pillowcase set of a character he likes and put it on his bed, say, when he's downstairs watching telly. When he's going to bed, surprise him, make a big fuss about it.

I did that with my DS and told him his jungle friends wanted him to stay in bed and sleep with them all night and only to get up to go to the toilet. He's stayed in bed at night ever since.