Re-caging the tiger- has anyone done this?

[WreckOfTheHesperus]

DD (nearly 2) was a fabulous sleeper until she threw herself out of her cot 4 months ago, and we took the side down to turn it into a cot bed.

Since then, she gets out of bed and wanders around her room playing and singing until late into the night. We put a stairgate on her door, and send her straight back to bed whenever we see her out of it.

Have tried sitting with her, but she can go for hours without going to sleep, and then the evening has gone...

She sleeps well in travel costs when we're away, so we are now thinking of putting the cot side back - anyone tried this successfully (please say yes )

Yes, but there wasn't a 4 month gap. The bed thing wasn't going great, so I put her back in cot for a short while.

When I moved her back to a bed again, I removed anything from her room she could play with. Also listened out and if she wasn't going to sleep, went in, lay her down again quietly without talking and left room again, had to do repeatedly for a while over weeks until she got the message alas...

Winter is great now though, as she cannot see to play in the dark and goes to sleep much much faster LOL {grin]

Have you shortened her nap in the day, made sure it's not too late in the day either, or got rid of it? That could help if she's not tired enough? Maybe? Just an idea...

No-one has ever re-caged this Tiger.

Sorry, that was very unhelpful.

teaandcakeplease I may try your pitch black scene. Although this may not deter a child who likes to run about with a bucket on her head.

Tigerdrivesagain Good luck with the whole staying out of captivity thing

Ha!

Seriously now - why not just let her get on with her wandering about stuff? She's not sitting Alevels or even SATs so being a bit tired in the day isn't a major problem and she'll sort her sleeping out herself pretty soon. Just let her be and I bet she'll work it out, and if she's not able to get out and hurt herself (or trash the house) you can get some sleep too.