Toddler DS a total PITA at bedtimes!

[phantomhairpuller]

It's completely our fault but I've really had enough now!

He used to be brilliant, we could put him down in his cot and walk away. He would self settle and fall asleep within 15mins.
Moved him into proper bed a couple of months ago due to imminent arrival of DS2 (therefore needing the cot) and its gone massively downhill from there

More often than not one of us has to lie with him in our bed until he falls asleep - this can take anything from 20mins to over an hour.

We are completely dancing to his tune and I'm sick of it!! But if we dare to do anything anyway other than the way he wants it he will scream and make himself sick, which then creates a whole load more work.

How the hell do we regain control?! Our evenings currently consist of me downstairs feeding DS2 (he will not take a bottle this time of night- we've tried!) and DH upstairs being completely manipulated by a bloody 2yr old!

Any advice welcome!

We moved DS to a bed just after he turned two. Well, cotbed without sides first and into a single 2 months later.

It took us 6 weeks to sort it. Like yours he used to self settle beautifully, then the sides were off and he was running around, totally over excited every night and refused to stay in bed. Giggling, then screaming when we didn't stay.

We went with gradual withdrawal and return to bed. So started off sitting next to him on the bed and if he got up we returned him, super nanny style. V gradually moved closer to the door, then out of the door, then downstairs with stair gate. It worked, just took time.

Also gave treats for staying in bed nicely. And introduced a star projector light for interest and security. I think they really get scared and insecure when the cot sides disappear.

Your alternative is to put a stair gate across his door and just accept he's going to cry and vomit for a few nights. Don't think I could though.

Good luck.

Could you put him back in the cot and try again in a month or so?

The baby is in the cot so that's not really an option, tho I bet DS would think it was a great idea

I've bought a reward chart so we'll go with the 'super nanny' method and see how we get on! I'd been thinking along those lines anyway but wanted other parent's tips/tricks 1st!

Thanks

It took us a couple of months to get nights sorted pit here too after DS went into a big bed. DS gets a sticker every morning that he stays in bed until the sun comes out on his gro clock.