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Original poster

2 year old getting out of bed - how do you deal with it

14 replies

Em32 · 25/03/2006 10:14

Any tips? We tried ds in a bed in January without a stairgate on the door (BIG mistake) We've now tried again with a stairgate. There is a lot of getting out and being put back in the evening but eventually he does go to sleep. I cannot get him to sleep in it at all after lunch though and if I leave him in his room he just wrecks it (throwing clothes and books around) and stands at the stairgate shouting for me. He still needs a nap as he collapses at 4pm otherwise. Apart from that I also need a nap as up half the night with dd at the moment who has a bad cold. He also gets up as soon as it gets vaguely light now (although he has got blackout lining on his curtains it isn't totally dark in his room) and stands at the gate whingeing to come out. He used to be happy in his cot until about 7.30am before. Any advice gratefully received (just sent off for a bunny clock before anyone suggests that......)

OP posts:
Original poster
Em32 · 26/03/2006 09:14

bump I know this is an old chestnut but......

OP posts:
sareg26tymaddie · 26/03/2006 20:02

you are not alone. I had this with my four year old he wouldn't stop in his own bed for nothing but keep going with what your doing. I know its hard work but if you give in and let him in your bed he has won. the best thing is dont talk to him just get up put him in bed and tuck him in. Have you tried a chart or the bed fairy. Abit like the tooth fairy but she leaves a bag of small treats and basically you show him whats inside and he chooses one before he goes to bed. Tell him if he sleep without waking up and doesn't get out of bed the fairy comes and leaves him the special treat. It takes a while to work but it soons does if there is something he really wants. Takes some planning but is effective. give it a whirl and get back to me.

sareg26tymaddie · 26/03/2006 20:03

you are not alone. I had this with my four year old he wouldn't stop in his own bed for nothing but keep going with what your doing. I know its hard work but if you give in and let him in your bed he has won. the best thing is dont talk to him just get up put him in bed and tuck him in. Have you tried a chart or the bed fairy. Abit like the tooth fairy but she leaves a bag of small treats and basically you show him whats inside and he chooses one before he goes to bed. Tell him if he sleep without waking up and doesn't get out of bed the fairy comes and leaves him the special treat. It takes a while to work but it soons does if there is something he really wants. Takes some planning but is effective. give it a whirl and get back to me.

threebob · 26/03/2006 20:13

Having got out of bed 4 times last night to escort ds back to his room - I feel for you.

Nbg · 26/03/2006 20:34

Have just come out the other end with this one.
I think we had an advantage though because dd has a lamp in her room and listens to music so we went down the conviscation route if she ventured out of bed.

It worked for a few nights but it all came to head one night and ended up with dh stood like a bouncer outside dd's door Shock
Worked though!

As for the early wakings, I'm stumped too and it's killing me.
She would normally sleep till 9:30/10am but since she's gone in to the bed she's up 7/7:30am.

Whats this bunny clock???

mojomummy · 26/03/2006 20:56

Put him back in his cot. we put Dd in a bed & after a week of unsettled nights & early morning disturbances, she is back in her cot.

She is 2 yrs 9 mths. I probably won't try her again for at least another couple of months.

pesme · 26/03/2006 21:12

dh and I are going crazy with this. dd used to go to bed no bother and now all of a sudden pops up like a little jack in the box. i sit on the floor now until she goes to sleep and when she does it at night i don't have the energy for a battle so she comes in with me. please someone tell me what to do before she kills us!

Original poster
Em32 · 27/03/2006 09:10

Thanks all - am considering returning ds to cot for a few months (the side went back on last night) This morning his first words were 'don't like that' points towards cot rail that has been replaced, cue internal Grin from me.

Nbg the bunny clock is a clock with a bunny on it (obvious I know) with eyes that open and ears that stand up when it is time to get up. You can get them on letterbox.co.uk or blooming marvellous sell them as well. Lots of people seem to use them.......

OP posts:
Laurie1 · 28/03/2006 17:22

Just clocking up our second week of sleepless nights with BS. He's 2 1/2 and has never been a good sleeper. The 1st wk he said he was frightened (think it was bad dreams). I would go in put him back in bed and sit at the door until he fell asleep. By the end of day 6 I was so shattered I was falling to sleep on his bedroom floor. Now in to second week and tried the controlled crying routine for 3 nights but as of yet nothing has changed. Had 6hrs sleep in last 3 days!!! Think we may have to go back to me slowly moving away from him each night and following this through when he wakes up in night. Will let you know!!

jmum6 · 28/03/2006 17:35

Shame they don't do cots up until 10years really :o

jmum6 · 28/03/2006 17:35

Shame they don't do cots up until 10years really :o

yomellamoHelly · 28/03/2006 19:18

Have you tried extending your wind-down time before bed? We went through the same thing as you with our ds, but what seemed to really do the trick was adding in 5 mins downstairs doing a jigsaw, or a lift the flap book or playing cards with us to his routine. Then we take him upstairs for 1 (shortish) story then lie him down and review the day.

mojomummy · 28/03/2006 22:42

I don't understand the rush to put toddlers into their own beds ? it's not as though it impairs or assists their developement, or does it ?

If you think about it, you don't like going to bed, get given the opportunity to sleep in something that is easy to get out, so you're bound to take advantage.

Yes - cots until they are 10 !!! what a great idea Grin

Kaz33 · 28/03/2006 22:49

Second the make the bedtime routine a bit longer - more books, more puzzles till they are hanging in rags.

I was having a nightmare with the boys, DP was away - every night was hellish, couldn't them to settle. Every night it was getting worse. Then I won a whole lot of books of mumsnet Grin. The day they arrived we had a huge book fest as the books were great, kids went to bed without any fuss. Kept on with the extended bedtime for a bit, they forgot about their bad behaviour and slowly I reduced the bookfest.

Now I just work not to get to het up about it if they try it on. Be firm, keep calm, put them back to bed - nighty, nighty

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