Huge cot to cot-bed fail

[babepig]

DS is 2.5, lately he's been attempting to climb over his cot bars and he's succeeded twice and bumped his head. So we took the advice to baby proof his room (it's tiny and empty apart from a few books and soft toys) locks on his wardrobe and plug socket covers, lock on the outside of his door etc. and took the side off the cot today ready for first bedtime in "big boy bed"

We also switched him from a sleep bag to a duvet and I wonder if this was a step too far - he's always slept in sleep bags but lately he has been taking them off.

Well we did bath, book, then my DH popped him in his bed with a cup of milk like normal (I know the milk isn't ideal either)

He drank it, then got out of bed and made a beeline for the door. went mad when he realised it wouldn't open and then spent the next 20 minutes screaming and crying "mummy" at the top of his lungs. In the end I went in to put him back to bed - cue a lot of kicking and screaming - and complete duvet hatred. In the end I cuddled him and paced the room and laid him back down. WELL, the bloody door handle lock had locked behind me and now I was trapped with him. I had to force the handle and break the lock and DS is awake and coming towards the door.

In the end we pushed the cot against the wall and put him back in his sleeping bag with fresh milk and he's gone off.

Did we do the wrong thing?
Any suggestions v much welcome 🥴

[LittleBearPad]

Why didn’t you open the door when he screamed?

Assuming he’d go to sleep as normal seems optimistic

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

Personally I wouldn't lock is bedroom. What if there was a fire? Why is it necessary?

I think duvet + bed change probably a bit much in one go. Did you explain he was going to go in big boy bed before hand? Stories in bed etc?

What was routine before bed change? It's always going to be tricky for a few nights

[dwightkurtschrute]

Why couldn’t the door open?

[MintTwirl]

It’s normal for them to get out of bed when you change from a cot. You go in and gently put then back in repeatedly, either without saying anything or something like it’s sleepy time now. Why wouldn’t the door open?

Plug socket covers are not recommended now I don’t think. U.K. plugs are safer without them.

[SkyBloo]

Why did you lock the door?

You don't lock a child's door. You accept that the first 2-3 nights in a bed you many have to spend an hour or two silently putting them back in the bed every 5 mins. They quickly learn its bedtime.

[AhBiscuits]

You lock him in his room and let him scream for 20 minutes?

[Familiaritybreedscontemptso]

You definitely did the wrong thing locking him in his room. Wtf? This is not parenting advice ANYWHERE!

You need to be prepared to spend a few nights popping him back in bed as he realises he can get out but that’s ok. Please never lock him in his room again. What if there was a fire?

[Autumn1990]

Take the socket covers off they’re really dangerous
Put a stair gate across the door so he can see out and then leave a few books and some safe toys, I left happyland out, and in a week or so he’ll get the hang of it.

[Sarah1834]

Maybe try the cot bed with his sleep sack/bag on first then in the summer try the duvet again? try just to change 1 thing at a time and see if that helps.

[Seagrassbasket]

Another one here saying please don’t lock the door.

Give him a few night to get used to his duvet, then talk to him about taking the side off and he needs to stay in bed. As others have said you might need to take him back a few times.

[Autumn1990]

I didn’t put a stair gate across the bedroom door just one at the top of the stairs and closed the other doors.
I missed that you locked him in and left him for awhile. It will take time to resettle after that.

[AhBiscuits]

Why not put him back in the cot and make a lid for it? A cage seems in keeping with your parenting style.

[Eloraa]

I’d go back to staying with him while he falls asleep for a bit. Partly to prevent escapes, partly to reassure him as it might well be a scary transition.

[Overthebow]

Please don’t lock the door op, it’s really dangerous if there’s a fire. It may take some time but you need to persevere. When he gets up, put him back in bed. Just put him back in and say night night, don’t pace or give new milk (at 2.5 shouldn’t be having milk at bed time anyway as very bad for teeth).

[babepig]

I didn't realise the door locking was so controversial. We did it because he is used to a pitch black room and a stair gate or similar would suddenly open up the whole landing for peering onto.

If we remove socket covers he will legitimately be pulling on plugs and sticking his fingers in them. I didn't realise they were an issue.

[Pineapplewaves]

You don't need to put locks on the door, where did that idea come from? Get a video baby monitor and as soon as you see them get out of bed run up and help them get back into bed. If you have stairs put a baby gate at the top. The novelty of getting in and out of bed all the time will wear off after a few nights.

You can get sleeping bags with legs if he still wants his sleeping bag.

[SpringOfContentment]

If he's climbing out of the cot, you need to stick with the bed.
So I'd put him back in a sleeping bag.
Also, take the lock off the door.

[Marblessolveeverything]

@AhBiscuits

You lock him in his room and let him scream for 20 minutes?

This.What the hell have I just read?

You locked your child in a room and let them scream for twenty minutes, can you please clarify?

You never lock a child in a room. What on earth would happen if there was a fire. I am honestly shocked at what I am reading.

[iLovee]

Locking him in his room and letting him cry for 20 mins is just cruel.

It will always be a transition between cot/bed (didn't work for mine and ended up going back to a cot a couple of months ago!) So no advice there I'm afraid.

My little girl (also 2.5) absolutely hated the freedom and that was even with me sittint next to her/stroking her to sleep.

Be kind and patient with your toddler! It's all new to them!

[RoundWeGoAgain2]

I did read a book that suggested locking kids in their rooms, but it seemed bonkers to me.

My DS would never have gone back in the bedroom at all if I'd locked him in for 20 minutes like you did. I really don't think you should do that.

[Overthebow]

@babepig

I didn't realise the door locking was so controversial. We did it because he is used to a pitch black room and a stair gate or similar would suddenly open up the whole landing for peering onto.

If we remove socket covers he will legitimately be pulling on plugs and sticking his fingers in them. I didn't realise they were an issue.

You don’t need a stair gate across the door or a lock. Just shut the door like you would any other door in your house. Why does he need to be locked in? At 2.5 he should be able to understand that he doesn’t play with plug sockets. It is more dangerous to have a socket plug cover anyway.

[fieldsofbutterflies]

You can't lock your child in his room!

If he keeps getting out of bed, you could try using Supernanny's "stay in bed" technique. Yes, it's exhausting for a few days but you really can't lock him up and let him scream like you did. He must have been terrified.

[SadieSue29]

Wtf why on earth would you lock your child in his room? How scary for him :(

You sit outside his room and calmly return him to his bed everytime he gets up, until he gets the message it's bedtime and he has to go to sleep.

[babepig]

In that case it accept I have made an error in judgement. I feel awful now.

He isn't the type of child to listen to rules tbh, anything we say not to do, he tends to do.

[LittleBearPad]

@babepig

I didn't realise the door locking was so controversial. We did it because he is used to a pitch black room and a stair gate or similar would suddenly open up the whole landing for peering onto.

If we remove socket covers he will legitimately be pulling on plugs and sticking his fingers in them. I didn't realise they were an issue.

He won’t hurt himself with UK plug sockets without socket covers. He could with the socket covers in place.

Please don’t lock your child in his bedroom ever again.

And if he cries get off your bottom rather faster than 20 minutes FFS!