Why won't they go to sleep in their toddler beds?

Julie - posted on 07/11/2011

Granted, the first few nights were not fun (only thing I can say for that is really try and wear them out) Ours are 28 months old and have been in their beds for a few months (They were climbing out of the crib) Now once we're through with the bedtime routine, we'll go in once or twice if we hear them either running around or being loud -usually we have a 15 minute window before we'll go in - (a little talking doesn't bother me) If we have to go in a 3rd time, they lose their nightlight, and a 4th time one of us will sit right by the worst offender's bed and put our arm around her so she lays down (not forceful but enough that she can't really sit up or get out if that makes sense) They do not like that at all so maybe 2x that's happened. Pretty much once they lose the nightlight things get quiet. (Their one teacher at school really helped us, it's how they deal with the ones who like to get up from their cots at nap time)

Alda - posted on 07/08/2011

Teressa, my girls were fine in their cots as well, and hadn't tried to climb out. I would have loved to keep them in there longer, but we started potty training, and of course they need to be in big girl beds for that, and they need to get used to the beds before you start the potty training. If you're not planning on potty training I would keep them in cots as long as possible lol :-)

Terresa - posted on 07/08/2011

I have twin girls who are 2 1/2 and for all the reasons I have read above, I still have not made the transition to big beds even with the entire family encouraging me to do so. They have bought the beds, bedding etc. as gifts all as subtle hints to do it, but my girls took 14 months to finally sleep through the night and I am not prepared to give that up just yet!! I think if its not broken, dont fix it!! They still fit in their cots just fine and have not attempted to climb out etc. so I dont think I should be giving into the family's pressure to do it just yet...its not them that will be sitting there at nights with them!

Hawley - posted on 07/06/2011

My G/B twins sleep okay in their beds. My problem is that one talks or sings non-stop for at least an hour. He keeps his sister & us up. Not sure what to do. Any ideas?

Michelle - posted on 05/15/2011

i tried reading stories leaving bed time lullaby music on and just sitting in the room till they have fallen asleep but being twins they are harder work than just one mine are 4 now and they are still a pain to go to sleep too busy talking and singing not playing cause taking toys out of the room lol good luck.

Alda - posted on 04/22/2011

I have 2.5 year old twin girls, and they've been in toddler beds for about 5 months now I think. We always did controlled crying with them when they were babies and do the same now. We put a stairgate in their bedroom door, the light switch is too high for them to reach and we don't have the key in the door. We have blackout blinds in the windows so the light from outside doesn't bother them and only leave a soft nightlight on, that I switch off once they're asleep (also, I found a having a dimmer switch in their room is great, you can have story time or whatever you do in dim light to prepare them for sleep). Once we finish story time and put them in bed, the light goes off, the stairgate is closed and that's it. They might run around a while but soon settle. If they scream I do controlled crying but will only go upstairs twice. After that they're only looking for attention. It took 3 nights for my two to settle in their new beds. They enjoy the freedom of being able to run around in their room, but the novelty soon wears off, especially if you get them really tired before bed time. Hope this helps and good luck :-)

Leslie - posted on 04/17/2011

I have the same problem! my G/B twins have been in twin beds since March (They will be 2 on May 4) and the first couple weeks they did great. Now, they stand at the door and scream. I'm pretty sure it's my girl that instigates it. I think my boy would go to sleep if she wasn't screaming... I can't seperate them because my boy is totally dependant on having Catie with him. If I go in and put them back in bed they scream even louder when I leave. They are out of bed before we make it out the door! Good luck! If you find something that works let me know! PLEASE!

Robyn - posted on 04/15/2011

I put my B/B twins in toddler beds a week after they turned two. We got them new bedding and everything they liked. The first 2 weeks I would go in there often. The first time I would go in and tell them they had to stay in their bed. Anytime after that I would not talk to them. I wouild just put them back in their bed without saying anything. We went through the turning on the light think. I would put tape on it. Only lasted two nights, and never touched it again. The door locking, all you have to do is turn the door knobs around. where the lock is on the outside of the door. They do wake up earlier in the morning, and do wake each other up. Good Luck. It has been four months now and we havent had any problems after first 2 weeks.

Marsha - posted on 04/15/2011

We tried toddler beds, but didn't work for us. We were only in them for 2 months and went to twin size beds with rails. Much easier. We kept them in cribs as long as possible, untill 2 years 4 months. By 2 ys 6 months they were in twin beds.

Amanda - posted on 04/13/2011

My mom was just here for a visit and in 2 nights got my B/G twins to stay in bed.... and now i am doing the same thing...
If she heard them get up she would open the door and and say something like "oh i guess you were not ready for bed yet.... come to the corner" (we use the corner as our punishment.... like a time out with their nose in a corner) after a minute or so... (doesn't take long) she asked if they were ready for bed... yes they were and off they went... 2 mins later they were back out of bed and she did it again... this time it was 2 mins in the corner.... back to bed they went and it was the first night since we out them in toddler beds that it only took 15 mins for them to go to sleep. I have since adopted this method and most times they just stay in bed or go to the corner once, because they need to test that Mom will do that too i guess.

I would suggest that if you want to do this to use what ever your normal punishment is... the during the day time out place because you know they dont like that. Good luck with whatever you try.... :)

Shannon - posted on 04/13/2011

We had that problem when we transitioned to big beds with our twins and their older siblings. I warn it will take time. We picked them up everytime they got out of bed and put them back in bed, said night-night and left the room. This was harder on us then it was on them! With our twins, over two weeks, the time we had to do this got less and less until they stayed in their beds. I was so worried the first time I ran to check on them after 30min of not seeing them...they were sleeping all nice in their beds. It will work but it is so hard and draining. Stay strong and good luck! P.S. We secured their toys in the closets at night so they couldn't play with them and left out a couple of their 'lovies' to cuddle in bed with.

Sharon - posted on 04/13/2011

when I moved my daughter from a crib to a "big" bed I did have some trouble with her getting up, I told her she could leave the light on and look at a book until she fell asleep as long as she stayed in the bed. She usually went to sleep pretty quickly. You can try letting have books, or maybe stickers if they stay in the bed. You can use a punishment for getting out or a reward for staying in. For the one tha cries and gets up, do you have a nightlight? Be consistent and they will learn. Hope it works out!

Natalie - posted on 04/13/2011

No, I can't seperate them unless I put one in their older sister's room but I don't think that would work. Either my husband or I will have to sit in their room with them. Thank you for your help. :)

Kelly - posted on 04/13/2011

Is there any way that you can split them up? It is so hard to get twins to go to toddler beds because they just want to play with one another. Other then that you can sit on their floor and put them back in their beds everytime they get up(if you have ever seen SuperNanny, this is what she teaches people). Definately alot harder with two, but it does work over time. Good luck.