Any tips for stopping DS 2.5 getting out of new 'big boy bed' in middle of night?

[Gemzooks]

4 days ago we moved our usually very good sleeper DS 2.5 out of cot and into a bed. Usually he sleeps solidly from 8 pm till 7 am. He loves the new bed, we put big stickers up round his room which he also loves, and he goes to bed fine in it, doesn't complain or whatever.

First night he was up or crying every 30 mins from 11 am.
Second night he slept totally normally (12 hours)
Third night (last night) he woke up very upset at 3 am, unfortunately he knew my DH was away for the night, in the end he came into bed with me at 4 am.

Should I just keep going or is there a way to make him feel happier? I've told him that when he wakes up in the night, all he has to do is give his monkeys a cuddle and then they will look after him till he goes back to sleep, and he seemed to be taking that in. I don't want him in our bed every night! ideally I would like him not to be getting out and wandering round either, but DH is totally against the idea of a lock on the door or even a catch.

I think there is a thing called rapid return, where you put them back to bed straight away quietly (ie. not talking to them etc.)

you're right, my first instinct is put him straight back, but I'm 33 weeks pg and have SPD and I just can't keep getting out of bed, that's the prob... DH can get up but not the whole night..

I completely sympathise - we moved DS1 to a bed at 2.4 (3 months ago) and he went from sleeping through to getting up 2 or 3 times a night and refusing to go back to bed - unfortunately it coincided with DS2 arriving and I think the fact DS2 is in our bedroom has not helped!

One night I spent over an hour (at 4am!) putting him back to bed....grrr!

Anyway, we introduced a reward chart a couple of weeks ago - he gets a star every night he stays in bed and gets a reward after 10 stars (he got his first reward this morning ) and it really seems to have worked. He completely understands and we have had no problems since we started it.

We did the same as Ceebee, reward chart. We would wake up and find him snuggling next to us if he hadn't woken us already!

We gave him small rewards eg. extra tv time or chocoalte after first days, then v.cool pressie after first week and are now giving him smaller pres after 2 weeks. I was a bit against charts before, but I cannot beleive how excited he gets in mornings to put his stickers on (and get extra cuddles from us)
Also, that he has stayed in bed for almost a month now. I feel normal again.

We still have to go through what he won't do in the night and where he will stay as we put him to bed.
I would not want a lock on anyone's door either.
good luck!

We've never been able to bribe DS1 with reward charts and had a very similar problem to this. We tried him at about the same age, didn't work and we had the same as you, some night slep OK others waking loads and very upset.

In the end we put him back in this cot for another couple of months then tried again. This time we put a stairgate on his door and put him a nightlight in and drink of water. This really helped as he was able to see where he was and even get up and pad about a bit it he wanted.

We have bought a 'bunny clock' from here. When the bunny is in bed, our DS1 knows he has to stay in bed. When the bunny is awake, he knows it's still bed time. Along with rapid return, we found he got used to this pretty quickly. We have it set for 6am, and from that time he can come in to our bed for a cuddle - a lovely way to start the day!

We also tried the 'bunny' clock (although it is a Thomas the Tank Engine version) - it didn't really work tbh as he still got out of bed and tried to get in ours!

We still use it and have it set for 6am aswell - and after that time, as Stubby has said, he can get in our bed for cuddles/more sleep - but he seems to ignore it - depending on what time it is when he appears at our bedroom door, I tend to make a judgement then as to whether to send him back to his own bed or let him ours.

Tbh, as DS2 is in our bedroom, it feels mean to banish him from our room until 7am - plus it is lovely all being in the same room together for a little while having snuggles and kisses (this is the only time I get kisses and cuddles from DS1 )