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Our 2.5 year old has just moved from a cot to a bed and is understandably making the most of her new found freedom.
She's up for about 2 hours every night after her normal bed time and we've tried ignoring her, putting her back in bed, getting her really calm - none of which is working.
Any suggestions or is it just a case of putting up with it for a few months until the novelty wears off?
Cheers
PL
If ours ever came into our bed, we'd give them a few mins, then cart them back - doesn't last long.
Or just lock your door.
There doesn't need to be a "normal" bedtime for a toddler. She has nothing else to do, she will sleep in the day if she get's tired. We gave up with our little girl at that age, when she normally went to bed only when we did (10..11PM). It doesn't matter, they catch up at other times. -Go to Spain and you'll soon see that the English approach is very .. "English!".
Ignore her....or sellotape and staples!
give her about 5 candy flosses to take to bed every nite....she wont get bored then.. then in a couple of hours there will be spidery webs all over the room..she,ll not find her way out to your room then ! lol !
we've got a peppa pig go glow clock. got it about three weeks ago and this week has been fantastic, 5 nights out of 6 we've had full nights sleep, that brings the total to 8 full nights in 3 years
sit outside her door and march her back to bed every time she gets up, don't say anything. It will last about a week, she won't get up again.
stairgate across door to 'contain' her - then leave her to her own devices (within reason!) - soon gets bored and tired so goes to bed!
cling film to bed
Our nearly-4-year-old still comes in with us every night... 😥
Flatfish - we've been wondering if that might work?. Was it on request, or did you have to sell the idea?
another mother at nursery told us about how good it was and as my daughter loves peppa pig she took to it quite well. my daughter sleeps in a huge double bed and we've been climbing in with her as were both too lazy/tired to go back to our own bed, but after two/three weeks of us going upstairs and telling her peppas stll asleep and so should she be she's got the hang of it. you can now set your watch by the call of "daddy peppa's awake"
Cool - thanks flatfish. Think we'll give it a go - the bags under my eyes are catching in the spokes these days...
Apologies to OP for the hijack!
flatfish I feel your pain, my 3yr old is doing exactly the same thing but even having his Lightning McQueen light doesn't help. He wakes up and says big birds and dinosaurs are trying to eat him. Not had decent nights sleep for about 4months!
Soft Velcro restraints on hands and feet? ;0)
Take control of the situation. Don't let them control you!
genesis - Member
He wakes up and says big birds and dinosaurs are trying to eat him.
Tell him that they'll find him unless he shuts up?
don't know what to suggest for the big birds and dinosaurs, sorry
Fart on his head. If that doesn't work just push him off the edge. He'll soon learn.
We used a gate on his door. The first week is a pain as they stand there and demand attention but as long as you don't actually go up and just keep an ear open for any real trauma, they stop doing it after a week or so.
Same with everything for kids. Give attention for good behaviour, ignore them for bad. Works a treat. Ours is a teenager now and this method still works great.
Well we developed a routine with both our kids early on from when they were just a few weeks old, I don't care what they do in Spain all I know is our kids sleeps for about 12 hours a night each.
They wake occasional if they're cold, had a bad dream or not feeling well that's it. No way would I consider keeping a toddler up so late at night and then expect them to catch up during the day.
+1 Drac.
We knacker our nipper out as much as possible during the day and she sleep's through the night no bother.
+2 Drac.
I'd be saying to her that if she won't stay in her big girl's bed then she'll have to go back in the cot.
Our 2 year old (well, officially 1 until Wednesday!) went in her bed for the first time last night. She didn't like the duvet so pretty sharpish resorted to the old Grobag. I must say I thought she'd be out and about as soon as she discovered she was no longer penned in, but stayed in all night - only one squeak and I think it was in her sleep anyway.
We have put up an Ikea moon light above her bed so she can switch it on if she ikes, but also use a stair gate across the door to keep her hemmed in. I awoke at about 7.30 to the sound of the Magical Gazebo being hammered and incessant playing of the In the Night Garden Theme tune! Still, we got a good nights kip all considered!
Agree with Drac too though - try and knacker her out all the time and we do stick to a pretty strict bedtime routine with her as I think they do need a good 12 hours at that age (and ours isn't a fan of sleeping much in the day anymore).
+3 for Drac, routine is the key from day 1.
We fitted a stairgate to JM Jrs door, rarely closed it at night, but the routine of a bedtime, reducing stimuli before bed etc always seemed to work with him.
He's always been more likley to wander into our room at the crack of dawn looking to crawl into bed with us then.
Spain is very different as family life often revolves arounf the main meal, eaten late in the evening, and kids will be up later as in some areas it only becomes cool enough to play out later in the evening.
install a wood burner in the room below the nippers bedroom.
worked for us. 😀
What I use for everything that moves but shouldn't...Gaffer tape
hotglue.
you can fix anything with hotglue
rapid return with no conversation
it took 150 returns the first night (wife and i took turns with sets of 10)
75 the second night
and then never again (unless unwell).
Not fun but it works.
Few whiskies through the evening. Great thing is, doesn't even need to be a good single malt, at that age their taste buds won't be developed enough
Be consistent. It's just a test. And be loving and calm.
Your room is your room, our room is our room. Goodnight.
Simples 😉
what id like to know is how do you send a whippet back to his own bed ? he sneaks in everynite and curls up behind me.. he does keep me warm tho...lol
Our's is nearly 4 and we never put him in his bed to go to sleep on his own. He goes off on the sofa at around 7-8pm and then I carry him up. Not sure how much longer I can do this for though as he's getting really heavy! He does come in with us a lot too, usually with any sign of sniffles/illness. I know we're too soft.
Be consistent. It's just a test. And be loving and calm.Your room is your room, our room is our room. Goodnight.
Simples
This just seems a tad harsh to me. Me and mum are together in "our room" and you have to be on your own in "your" room. I just can't bring myself to do it.
There doesn't need to be a "normal" bedtime for a toddler. She has nothing else to do, she will sleep in the day if she get's tired. We gave up with our little girl at that age, when she normally went to bed only when we did (10..11PM). It doesn't matter, they catch up at other times. -Go to Spain and you'll soon see that the English approach is very .. "English!".
That seems a very odd thing to do in my opinion - it might work for some people but a small child needs plenty of sleep and, unless there is no need to get up the next morning (to be taken to childcare/school etc), I don't see how they will get enough sleep. In places like Spain they have a very different routine where siestas are more normal. That doesn't happen in the UK so really don't see how it can work.
Tell her to TTFU and get back to bed?