help on getting toddler to stay and sleep in new big girl bed without crying alot

Geneviève - posted on 12/17/2009

We just went through the big boy bed transition a few weeks ago. The first 3 weeks were really hard, but I refused to sit with him beside his bed. We tried the ''putting back into bed without any eye contact'' strategy, which totally failed! We were at a loss, bedtime was taking over 2 hours (in his crib, we would just put him in there and he would be asleep in 5 minutes!) We then switched gears and became VERY strict with him. He was not allowed out of his room and we would scold him. It was really hard, but the turning point was when he understood that we would close his door if he wasn't listening (which as it turns out is something he doesn't want). Miracle! He now goes to bed without a fuss and doesn't ome out of his room at all. He sleeps through the night, but sometimes gets up around 3 in the morning and wants to come into our bed, we just take him back and explain that it is still nighttime and that he has to sleep in his bed. Keep at it, it takes a while for them to get used to the big boy/girl bed. Make sure you stay consistent every night with your routine and your rules and things will work out in the end. Good luck!

Chloe - posted on 11/17/2009

Once John climed out of his crib we changed it to a toddler bed. He slept in it no problem. My parents brough us a single bed to put in his room, that's when the problem started he did not want to sleep in there. So what we did is take out the playpen and put it beside his bed. At night he got to choose which he rather have, playpen or big boy bed.

He always chose the playpen. However during the day i made sure he played in the big boy bed if only to read a story or jump when i had to change him. We went away for a weekend and i told him we forgot the playpen... We really didn't have a hard time after that putting him down for a nap or nightime.

Abi - posted on 11/04/2009

Music.... Books.... Stuffed animals...... let her take anything to bed that she wants (as long as its safe to sleep with) my son's bed is packed so he knows, if he wakes up before its time to get up... he has plenty to keep him busy

Cate - posted on 10/23/2009

i went through exactly the same thing with my 2 year old son i would have to lay down next to him at bedtime then creep out of the room. but one night i just put him in his cot (not bed, they say keep them in a cot till about 2) and let him cry it out but went in every 5-10 minutes and lay him back down and after a week he just went to bed and straight to sleep. He still wakes very early like 4am and comes in the bed..im just to tired to deal with it at that time lol

Teagan Altaira - posted on 10/22/2009

My daughter (nearly 2years old) has a recent fascination with the word "nice" ... i keep asking her if she will be a nice girl today and help mum with the washing? she always replies with a yes. i started asking her to be nice rather than good, and she pays more attention!
moving on to the bed part. she is fine a big bed, has been since 14 months. but lately has been waking in the night crying and not wanting to go back to sleep! my partner jumps in bed with her when he gives up, and she cuddles and falls asleep! - not a good idea in the long run... so three nights ago, i told my lil miss "tonight, you will sleep the whole night through! no crying / screaming when nothing is wrong! as thats not being nice. mummy and daddy would like you to be NICE tonight. can you be nice and sleep through the night?" her reply is this quiet little nod, then a slight yes mum. :D and my gosh, did she sleep!?!?! YES! i reminded her the next night (not as harsh) "nice girls sleep through the night! are you going to be nice tonight?" and the same last night! and she hasnt woken once! she is even sleeping 30min longer!!!!!!

i didnt read that anywhere, i just had had enough. she understands more than she can speak, so i tried just asking her. and i think its been a success! 3 nights of good sleep, shes such a gem in the day now! :D :D :D

Sandy - posted on 10/19/2009

Quoting Jennifer:

Thanks for responding I even put her musical fish thing she had in her crib in her bed that she can turn on herself and the same animals that she had before last night she woke up 4 times crying the last time at 545am that time i let her cry it out only 4 about 10 min. and she went back to sleep i know she is so tired she always went to bed at 830pm and slept till 730am every night with a 2 hour nap during the day with no problem tonight im going to read her her books then leave the room ill keep the door open a bit and just take her back to bed as many times as i have to till she falls asleep i guess and at night ill let her cry for a little bit to see if she will fall asleep on her own i have to close her door all the way at night or the dog will keep her up and she cant open the door on her own yet i think thats why she cries

My daughter wants me to sit on her bed with her while she goes to sleep but I just tell her "mummy needs mummy time now. Your a big girl and can go to sleep yourself. I'll see you in the morning".  She lays down n goes to sleep, I think it just takes persistance, repitition and routine. Please share progress...

Jennifer - posted on 10/19/2009

Thanks for responding I even put her musical fish thing she had in her crib in her bed that she can turn on herself and the same animals that she had before last night she woke up 4 times crying the last time at 545am that time i let her cry it out only 4 about 10 min. and she went back to sleep i know she is so tired she always went to bed at 830pm and slept till 730am every night with a 2 hour nap during the day with no problem tonight im going to read her her books then leave the room ill keep the door open a bit and just take her back to bed as many times as i have to till she falls asleep i guess and at night ill let her cry for a little bit to see if she will fall asleep on her own i have to close her door all the way at night or the dog will keep her up and she cant open the door on her own yet i think thats why she cries

Sandy - posted on 10/19/2009

Have u got her familiar toys in bed with her? To get my 20month old in her big bed I made a fuss about it then put all her fave toys in her new bed n just put her there, walked out, closed the door n let her cry for 10mins n she was asleep. Through the night she would come into my bed but I just had to be persistant for a couple of weeks then now at 24months old she sleeps 99% of the time in her own bed, she occationally sneaks into my bed but I take her straight back to her bed n close the door behind me coming out.