Help! Sleep safety issue!

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/17/2011

Duct tape :)
Jk, honestly I'd try the zip sheets, or just remove it entirely.

Sarah - posted on 05/17/2011

My suggestion (because I went through the same type of situation with my 16 month old) is that you take all sheets off the mattress and you just put a blanket or a flat sheet in the bed. That way it's not too bad for your LO to wrap up in it. :)

Andrea - posted on 05/17/2011

I saw zip up sheets at Ikea a long time ago. I think it would be easy to make one if you have a sewing machine.



A time out? Why would anyone suggest that in the middle of the night? this is a safety and sleep issue. I doubt she is doing it to play. The consequence of pulling of the sheet in play is to remove the sheet and sleep on the plastic. No time out necessary there. There is a natural consequence.



My kids had toddler beds and at some point they started to sleep under the mattress on the wood board. That just made no sense to me. But we removed the board and the mattress and they slept on the carpet on the floor with their pillows and blankets (inside a car bed). This is why I suggest to just remove the sheet, even if she has to sleep on plastic. If it is behavioral she will stop as she will hate the plastic, if it isn't behavioral try a different bed arrangement that doesn't require the use of sheets. I think clip on corner holders would come off easily. Mine do. I used them once and they are garbage. Or try a duvet cover that zips and you can alter it if you need to. Even if it slips around it won't come off like the pins. (you should meet my boys, the damage they make with the way they play LOL) Pins can also rip the fabric. I would never use pins on my kids beds. You never know what happens to them when they open by accident. Or when they find and play with them, that's all my kids need. I can just see how that would pan out in no time LOL.

Ink - posted on 05/17/2011

http://www.zipsheets.com/products.php
They have crib size...and twin size.

Lori - posted on 05/17/2011

Oh, and she sleeps on a standard twin mattress on a daybed. Just in case that makes a difference on where I could find these zip-up sheets.
Thanks again...

Lori - posted on 05/17/2011

Maybe I wasn't totally clear when I posted earlier, as I was emotional and desperate for an answer to this problem.
The only time I give time outs and such for this behavior is when I catch her doing it while she is awake. For example, I put her to bed, and 45 minutes later I hear her playing instead of sleeping, or she calls me to her room for whatever reason. If I see she has pulled the sheets off the bed INTENTIONALLY, then we have a time out, or whatever the situation demands. I wouldn't punish her for doing this while she was sleeping. That would just be crazy. I'm mainly trying to get her to stop because of how she wraps her head and face up in the corner of the fitted sheet. Seeing her like that scares me to death...thinking maybe she can't breathe or something. She is 3 1/2, so she knows what "danger" means, and expresses understanding when I explain to her why she shouldn't put the sheet over her face. I just don't get why she is doing this.
As far as the zip-top sheets -- I would LOVE to find some of those! Does anyone know where to get them?
And thanks to all of you for your responses....

Ink - posted on 05/16/2011

Four giant safety pins at the corners of the mattress where the sheet wraps under...I do this on my OWN bed...I do it too. I always fuss at me in the morning...but I have to tell myself, I was asleep when I did it...I don't even know WHY.

Andrea - posted on 05/16/2011

I would remove the sheet and put a zip up one. f you can't find one you can make one. It is better to sleep without being tangled up.

Mel - posted on 05/16/2011

I dont have an answer for you, but my daughter sleeps with the blanket over he head most of the time, she gets scared even when she doesnt she wakes up in a pool of sweat, and its cold weather in australia, semi cold anyway. I use the fan and just sleep her in a shirt to try and keep her comfortable but she still usually wakes up. I guess sometimes you cant change what they want to do, good luck with sorting it out

Elfrieda - posted on 05/16/2011

I'm not the most organized person, and there have been several times when there is no sheet to put on the crib, because it's sitting wet in the laundry room because I forgot to turn on the dryer!
I just put a big blanket down and let the baby sleep on top of that. It works. It might be something for you to try until you get a better solution, like these clips some pp are talking about.
Also, I don't know if you have a sewing machine, but it would be extremely easy to take a flat queen or double sheet, fold it in half, and sew it so it's like a pillowcase for the mattress. Maybe somebody you know can do it for you?

Karen - posted on 05/16/2011

i'm agreeing with blackwood - i have the sheet clips as well and they are wonderful

Blackwood - posted on 05/16/2011

You can get these "clips" that hold sheets in place. I found mine at the dollar store, but you can get them at Walmart. They go on the bottom of the mat and are alittle stretchy so they don't rip or pull your sheets too hard. You place them at all four corners. She might like the coolness that she would find on the mat.

Jenni - posted on 05/16/2011

hmmm... if you could manage to find some very long, thick, strong velcro you could sew it on the under part. At the top and bottom of the sheet and then fasten it underneath. Just not sure you'd be able to find long enough velcro? Anyways, just an idea.

Kellie - posted on 05/16/2011

take it off and put her in a grow bag or halo or whatever you know them as :)
I like what Krystal said, I never knew you could get a sheet like that! Handy to know :)

Krystal - posted on 05/15/2011

if its a toddler bed get the sheet that goes all up on it like a pillow case and zip it up or just take it off for a while

JuLeah - posted on 05/15/2011

Odds are she does this in her sleep and is not even aware she is doing it. So, rethink punishment.

I don't know how old she is, but odds are not old enough to even be able to make a connection to a punishment and waking up frightened in the middle of the night .... She has no idea how it happens, yet is punished for it?

Take the sheet off till she out grows this, would be my suggestion.