Getting 3 year old to stay in bed/room

[BeeMakesTea]

My 3 year old has always been a good sleeper but we’re having issues now we’ve taken the sides off his bed. Before this we would put him in bed at 7pm and he’d chatter to himself for a bit before falling asleep, self settle if he woke at all during the night, and happily sing or chatter to himself when he woke in the morning until we came in to get him up at about 7-7.30am.
However a few weeks ago we took the sides off his bed and now he keeps leaving his room. Occasionally he does this at the start of the night but usually he is still pretty good at falling asleep. But when he wakes in the morning (any time after 6am) he will come out of his room and come to find us. We put him back in bed but he will find another excuse to come out. And now he’s started doing it when he wakes during the night too. He has a gro clock which worked for a while but doesn’t seem to now. Apart from disturbing our sleep I’m also very uneasy about him wandering around while we’re asleep (although so far he’s only ever come into our room).

I should add we also have a 2 month old so sleep is a precious commodity currently!

Any advice for me? Thanks.

Baby gate
Stickers or rewards if he stays in his room
Does he have books or quiet toys he is allowed to play with once gro clock is right colour.
Can you sleep in there with him so he has no reason to come out? X

You don't have to move out of a cot at aged 3. You could bring the cot back. It sounds like he lacks the emotional regulation to manage his sleep in a bed, which is not unusual at this age.

I'd give him the cot back.

@FATEdestiny the issue is that we have a 2 month old who will need the cot in a few months when she grows out of her bedside crib. So we wanted to start transitioning the 3 year old by taking the sides off his cot, in anticipation for getting a bed in a few months. He’s generally very good at following instructions and like I say had been a brilliant sleeper until very recently 😕

Keep putting him back in bed. It'll be really hard for a few days and then improve.

Just go there and put him back. Say goodnight and leave. If he's scared or something, sit outside the door (leave a pillow )

Bring the cot back and get another cot for the baby.

You can get them cheap on eBay/fb marketplace and sell them on when you're finished with them if money's an issue.

For the sake of less disturbances at night I would do that.

Surely you’ve heard of a stair gate?

Have you tried getting a gro clock? They stay in bed when the clock is blue and get up when the sun is up. My two still use it at ages 8 and 5 as they are early risers.

Stair gate in their bedroom door works very well

Can you get a travel bed side that will give him the bed but hopefully the thought to keep him in it?

With my 3 year old we use the door. If it is almost shut stay in bed, if it is open come and see us. Works most nights.