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Original poster

DD will not stay in bed - techniques please!

9 replies

Numbthumbs · 17/06/2013 21:30

DD is 2 this weekend. About 10 days ago she started climbing out of her cot so we put her in a single bed.

I decided i would do rapid return so i put her to bed as i normally would then whenever she got to the door (childgated) i went straight in and put her back in bed. I did this 23 times the first night and 18 times the second night which i thought was brilliant but then it all went to pot.
The third night she screamed and screamed the whole time until she had snot and tears all over her face and my heart was breaking so i gave in and got in bed with her - she went straight to sleep - and ive been doing that ever since.

I have never had a problem with her before, she has consistently slept 8pm - 9am since she was tiny (i wake her earlier when im at work) and even having a new brother screaming at night didnt change this so i feel as though i should cut her some slack. I dont want her to be freaked out by her new bed as its a huge thing isnt it? Or am i being a wimp?

She is also waking at night and she hasnt done this since she was teeny. I am tied up with my DS who is nowhere near sleeping through so DP goes in and gets straight into bed with her.

I really have no clue how to deal with this Sad but she is such a good little girl and i dont really want to just 'shut the door and leave her to get on with it' like everyone in RL keeps telling me.

Please help!

OP posts:
Original poster
Numbthumbs · 18/06/2013 08:57

Anyone??

OP posts:
extracrunchy · 18/06/2013 09:15

We had this! Don't whatever you do get in bed with her when she yells cos she'll do it every time Grin what we did was get a two way monitor and just talk quietly to DS and tell him to get back into bed when he was up. It offered enough security to calm him down, but meant he didn't actually need us in there and we could do it from bed! He got loads better within a week or so and is fine nearly every night nowadays, no walkie talkie needed.

karrie8 · 18/06/2013 19:35

I have this aswell im so tired lol
Ive taken cotbed sides off because ds started getting out and he used to sleep 12hours through the night now hes wakeing every 3-4 hours and wanting to be in my bed :-/ im shattered.
Hes only just recently turned two

Original poster
Numbthumbs · 18/06/2013 20:01

Tonight she screamed and screamed for half an hour. She hasnt had a nap and has been up since 7, i just couldnt stand listening to her so i went in and sat on her bed - she soon went to sleep.

This is a horrible stage :(

OP posts:
extracrunchy · 18/06/2013 23:45

It's really tough - especially when they've been sleeping beautifully for a while! If the 2 way monitor thing doesn't work (I'd strongly recommend it!!) how about gradual retreat? I did this with a child I nannied for. When you put her down just sit near her (not cuddling but close) so she knows she's safe. Gradually (really really gradually - like stay put for 5 mins at a time - takes a while first few nights!) move towards the door and stop/talk v softly/shh if she notices. Next night sit in room but start slightly further away and do the same. Eventually you'll be able to put her in bed and sit by the door for 5 mins and she'll settle, then just saying "shhhh" from outside the door will be ok!
It's just about letting her know she's safe.

extracrunchy · 18/06/2013 23:47

Karrie try 2 way monitor if you can! We got one off eBay when we had the same problem. You can reassure him/let him know it's bedtime and he needs to stay in bed - but you don't have to get up Grin

karrie8 · 19/06/2013 06:18

I will try two way monitor aswell. Last night he fell asleep on sofa at 8pm, I put him in his bed he slept till 3.30am which was a big improvement but I gave in let him sleep in mine till 6am. But I feel better ive had some sleep I can tackle it easyer again tonight lol

Longdistance · 19/06/2013 06:28

We've just converted dd2's cot bed into it's toddler bed. It's been about 6 days, and we have a had a couple of times she's got out of bed, wakings, and waking early. We have penned her in by using a bed guard, so feels like she's still in her cot iygwim.
Last night she didn't wake or get out, and woke at 7am as usual.

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 19/06/2013 06:34

We persisted with all the above for 3 months before we put the sides back on! Fortunately DS is short and can't climb out (yet).

Not helpful, I know, but hopefully reassuring that its not just you!

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