Roaming toddler.

[junowiththegladrags]

Any one got a magic formula for a 2yr old who roams the house at night?
Finally got bedtime routine nailed and he'll usually go down with no worries as long as absolutely no deviation from said routine.

Problem is from about 2am onwards he's up tying to wander the place. I can put him back into bed 8-10 times a night and on bad nights more. Sometimes he'll pop in quietly but every night we have at least a couple of stand offs where he'll rage at the thought of going back.

I'm doing the obvious, darkened room with small nightlight, no chatting just whispered calm(ish) instructions etc but it's not working.
Would a stair gate at his door be cruel? Should I just give up and get the cot out again? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

A stair gate is no more cruel than the bars on the cot.

We have a stair gate across ds' door but no longer actually close it because he stays in bed now. Before, he used to mess about trying to come downstairs so we would close the gate and leave him to it - there are books and toys in his room but the blackout curtains and blinds, along with no light on on the landing, meant it was too dark for him to play. So he doesn't bother andjust goes to sleep.

Can he climb over a stair gate? If he can then it can be more dangerous to put it up. How about just closing has door? NOT locking it. If he can't open it then it's fine.

We've always done stair gate at the door because our banisters were pretty dodgy (rented house) and didnt accommodate a stairgate well. Not cruel at all...

we have a stair gate on the door too.

Can he climb out of the cot? If not just stick him back in.

We have a stair gate across the door, largely so he doesn't get up and trip over a sleeping dog, or the dog doesn't go on there and wee. Not cruel IMHO