Switched to a Toddler Bed - please tell me this gets easier.

ryanthegirl

We reluctantly moved G to a toddler bed last weekend after he climbed in and out of his crib multiple times. His room is a hard wood floor with an area rug and the final time he climbed out, he landed on his face (he's okay, just a bruise). We also had to rearrange his room for safety reasons. I think it may have been too much change at once - although he's not particularly resistant to change.

Our entire bedtime routine has been turned on it's head. We used to do the typical bath, lotion, jammies, book, song, cuddles, bed - but NONE of that has been working now that he's free range. He just jumps off my lap and wanders around his room. When I put him in bed he stands up and jumps, then scoots to the edge and starts wandering around again. It took me over an hour to get him to bed last night, when it used to be about 20-30 mins max.

Casey is starting 5-6 months of work on Monday so I've been doing bedtime by myself to try to prepare for the single parenting gig again.

Does the novelty wear off for them?

Should I take my chances and put the crib back together (it converted to the toddler bed).

MrsAmers

What if he sits in his bed for books and song while you sit on the floor next to him? You can give him hugs and kisses before he gets settled, use the lure of books to get him to sit/lay nicely in bed and then kiss his cheek/squeeze his hand/rub his forehead when lights are out to keep him settled.

You've changed the routine by changing the bed, so figure out what you can adjust to work in your favor. The novelty will wear off, but it may take a week or two.

On nights that T is clingy, I sit by his bed for a while and read blogs on my phone. He wants me there, so I'll stay as long as he stays calm. If he's fidgety or chatty, I leave, and he doesn't get what he wants.

rona118

It can be a rough week or two.... hang in there. Madi was near 3 when we finally moved her and it took weeks. Hang in there. I would not put the crib back up though.

 

ryanthegirl

I really didn't want to. I thought we had at least a year left. He's not even two yet! But it really is a safety issue. Once he figured out he could do it - that's all he wanted to do.

Thanks, ladies.

Amy, I think you're right. I have to adjust my approach. 

amyjoy18

I was going to suggest the same thing as Amy--now that he's in a big boy bed, maybe it's time for a big boy routine.   Iknow ours is not ideal, but it seems to work for now.

We typically read books, then give hugs and kisses and turn out the light.  As soon as we shut the door, Nolan will head into his closet and turn on the light and read more books.  Occasionally when he's done he'll climb into bed and go to sleep, but usually when he's done he calls for us and one of us will go up and lay with him for awhile.  When he's sleepy, but before actually asleep we'll leave and let him fall asleep on his own. 

When he was in his crib it took him forever to fall asleep.  We had to lay on the floor next to him with our hand in the crib. Since we moved him to a big boy bed (full size).  It still takes awhile to get him to sleep at night, but at least we're more comfortable since we can lay in the bed next to him. 

The win for us was now he sleeps through the night 90% of the time, as opposed to his previous 40% of the time when he was in the crib, so we'll take that trade off. 

Our routine with DD was similar.

MrsAmers

We switched T before he turned 2 as well. His sleep was so crappy we figured it couldn't make it worse and maybe it would help. :-)

Good luck!

BethieB

We switched both kids to full sized beds when they were 2 also.  Do you have any bed rails or anything on there to help deter him from getting out? I agree that staying next to his bed may also help keep him in there. It may not be where you want to be but hopefully it won't be for a long time!