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Parenting

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Original poster

How to keep dd in her bed!!

13 replies

Lj8893 · 06/10/2015 15:54

Dd has been in a toddler bed with bed guard since she was about 18 months (she broke her cot). This was absolutely fine and she sleeps very well, however she has no discovered she can get out of bed and is doing so when we put her to bed.
Last night we had to put her back in bed about 15 times before she finally stayed there and fell asleep!

She stayed at my mums at the weekend and managed to get out of her travel cot then so obviously putting her back in a cot isn't an option either!

She's 2. Help!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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f1fan2015 · 06/10/2015 16:03

Consistently and silently return her to bed - the novelty will wear off - hopefully before it wears you out

CPtart · 06/10/2015 16:06

..and never ever ever bring her into your bed in desperation, even once.

NeededANameChangeAnyway · 06/10/2015 16:16

I second CPtart's advice...... we have broken several times and it just isnt worth it.

I took DS into bed the other night as he had got out of bed and fallen asleep on the floor so was frozen. He wouldnt stop talking, wriggling and kicking the duvet off so I gave him a couple of hundred last warnings then took him back to his own bed... The crying, begging and pleading to come back in with us was heartbreaking. DONT DO IT!!!

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Original poster

Lj8893 · 06/10/2015 16:16

She's never been happy in our bed so that's never an option anyway. Thankfully once she's asleep that's it till the morning, but it's taking up our entire evening currently!!

I haven't let her have a nap today in hope that when her head hits the pillow at 7pm she will go straight to sleep wishful thinking perhaps!

OP posts:

KatyN · 06/10/2015 20:38

I let my son 'read' a book in bed if he says he's not tired, of course he can't read especially when I've turned all the lights out! We have a very strict rule he has to stay in his room. We don't even go upstairs if he gets out of bed.. A firm shout up the stairs and then we ignore him.

We are pretty mean though! (And I'm 7 months pregnant so no way I could go upstairs that many times).

Original poster

Lj8893 · 06/10/2015 20:43

She has a staircate on the door so she can't get out of her room, but unfortunately can reach the light switch from her bed which is annoying!

Will try the book thing but I don't think that will work, she will just get bored and get out of bed!

The no napping worked, I put her in bed at 6pm and she was asleep within a minute!

OP posts:

FinglesMcStingles · 06/10/2015 20:46

It's a battle of wills, OP. Seconding the advice you've already been given. You've just got to win this endurance test by not cracking up as you silently return her to bed for the eleventy-squillionth time. I've nothing else to add, except that I've spotted your thread title in active convos several times today and each time, all I've been able to think is "duct tape!" Maybe keep that as plan B if the battle of wills doesn't go your way?

FinglesMcStingles · 06/10/2015 20:47

Oh, now there's a happy crosspost!

ChampagneAndCrisps · 06/10/2015 20:50

With our eldest- who's now a teenager - even if he'd been in our bed overnight I used to carry him through so he woke up in his own bed. Then I'd praise him like mad for being such a big boy and sleeping in his own bed.
Side-stepped the overnight argument/ lack of sleep and the positive feedback ensured that he did start to sleep all night in his own bed

Original poster

Lj8893 · 06/10/2015 22:37

Oh how wrong was I!! Turns out her 6pm bedtime was only a nap and she is now wiiiiiide awake!!!

OP posts:

KatieLatie · 06/10/2015 23:44

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 06/10/2015 23:53

We had a spell of this with DS. He thought it was hilarious and no amount of threats seemed to work.
We had to persist with putting him back and tag team it on the basis that there were 2 of us v 1 of him. I was a grim few weeks but we won :)

chaosagain · 07/10/2015 16:30

We had similar issues with DD1, around the same age. We tried the gentle rapid return technique. You say EXACTLY the same thing every time you put her back into bed, calmly. The idea is she (eventually) figures out there's no point, reaction or reward in getting up. DD1's bedtime had been taking up to 3 hours which was unsustainable for everyone!

The first night we had to return her over 250 times over several hours. The second night was around 100. The third night was under 50. The fourth night it happened 3 times and the 5th she got up once. It wasn't the most natural approach for us but we were desperate and she was exhausted as she got up at 5.30am whatever time she got to sleep. We made a big fuss in the morning if she'd stayed in her bed. Within a (tough) week, everyone was happier. Good luck!

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