Help! - DS will not settle into his toddler bed...DD due in less than 3 weeks!

[BoogieBean]

Hi all, I'm in need of some urgent advice...

I feel like I'm about to be at my wits end. My DS will be 2 in 5 weeks and I'm 37 weeks pregnant with DD. About 2 months ago, DP and I made the decision to move DS to a toddler bed so he could get used to it by the time DD arrives, as she will be having his cot bed.

Problem is is that DS still has not settled and constantly comes out of his bed at least 5/6 times (luckily DP and I are still awake when this happens!). DP thinks DS might feel lonely as he is by himself in his room and wants company, which may well be the case but he has had his own room since he was 6 months old and was never like this when he was in his cot. I thought it could be because he was so used to the cot so felt a bit 'insecure' so I bought railings for the toddler bed hoping it would make a difference but it hasn't.

We sit in his room with him at times until he falls asleep so he feels safe but he needs to learn to fall asleep on his own without one/both of us being in the room.

I'm completely stuck and cannot think of what else to do. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

Boogie Bean x

Try a sleep trainer clock, we use a kid sleep one which shows a rabbit asleep in bed and he has to stay in bed until he can see the rabbit is walking. Be prepared to be VERY patient and consistent with it! It'll take many many nights of taking child back to bed with a shhh rabbits asleep monologue! Well worth trying.

I did the moving chair technique with my Ds which meant each night I moved further and further away each night. He was in his own bed at 15 months ( a climber) but he was breastfed to sleep till he was 2. so he had to learn to detach..It worked for me .. We also did the build a bear at that age that has become his special bear.

other things I am sure you have thought of..My Ds had a Thomas the Tank themed room..Let him pick quilt cover..Does he have a night light..We also had a go glo nightlight ..

I personally would shove the toddler bed into your room if you have the space. Then he will become secure in the toddler bed.

Thank you for your replies. I should have mentioned that when this started we put a nightlight in DS room and recently bought the Gro-clock sleep trainer but nothing seems to be working!

Starlight the chair idea sounds interesting so I might try that for a while and see if that works.

Binit that crossed my mind but I thought if we do that, then when it's time to put his bed back we'll be back at square one as we will not be in the room anymore.

I'm just so tired, being heavily pregnant, DS is a handful at times and lack of sleep is really getting to me. DS sometimes wakes up during the night now and then gets up between 7am and 7.30am (His Gro-clock is set for 7.30am).

Are you not planning a moses basket etc? It would by you more time?

We've just dd2 in a toddler bed at 22 mos too as I can't lift her well - pregnancy SPD.

She gets out lots in the evening but knows not of leave the bedroom. She has started sleeping on the floor by the door in the light. But doesn't call us or cry or anything. We would go to her and tuck her in if so. I'm expecting she will. Grow out of it soon. It is an improvement on just running around in there. So my option 2 for you would be persevere

Can DH get up with your toddler while you look after the newborn?

Poo Yes DD will be in a moses basket but DS was only in his moses basket for 3 months, so I'm worried that he still would not have settled by the time DD is ready for the cot bed.

Meringue That will probably be the best thing to do. We both actually get up when DS wakes up during the night but sometimes I feel really bad as DP has work in the morning so is really tired by the time he wakes up.

if I could go back I'd have bought a second cot. the night time interuptions got worse once my ds arrived and I was on my knees begging dd to stay in bed.

Put him back in the cot bed,ds didn't have the sides of his till he was three. I put dd in a bed at about 2 , she was up and down many times ( had climbed out of cot so forced into) If you have two under two having the older one contained is a godsend! Use Moses basket or second hand( or basic ikea/Argos cot) for newborn, worth every penny!

Myself and DP came up with a solution to put a stairgate up in DS room to stop him coming out and it worked!! DS is an attention seeker so the first night he stood at the gate and pretended to cry but when we ignored him he just gave up and went to bed and since then he hasn't even attempted to come out, so I've managed to get some sleep...Result!!

I'd put the cot back up and buy another for the baby.