How did you make your child stay in bed?

**AmyMCGS** · 11-20-2004, 10:25 AM

DD learned on Tuesday of this week how to climb out of her crib. Since then, she won't stay in it at all-- not for naps or bedtime, even when she's so tired that she's rubbing her eyes and practically dozing off. We lowered the crib and rails so she won't get hurt climbing out.

We've never put her to bed by the clock- we've always waited until she acted tired. Still, she was on a routine of basically taking a nap around 1pm and going to bed at 10pm.

So far we've tried:

putting a gate on her bedroom doorway and letting her roam around her room-- finally after about two hours we'd get her back out of the room
me sitting in the bedroom having basically a battle of wills/ staring contest until she finally layed down and went to sleep (30 minutes!)
putting her to sleep in the pack and play- which she also promptly climbed out of
waiting until she falls asleep and then putting her in bed
letting her sleep with us~ that was last night, when I was too tired to fight her anymore

This is driving us crazy, and with all the construction guys in our house the last few days, it's really a problem. It's not that she's outgrown the need for naps-- believe me, everyone will be happier if she takes them! We do have a toddler bed that a friend gave us, but I think switching to it right now will only make her "escapes" even easier.

Any suggestions?

**Darlene** · 11-20-2004, 10:40 AM

I did the gate in the doorway. At nap time I told them it was quiet time and they need to play quietly and then take a nap.If they took their nap I told them then they could have a treat. No nap, no treat. Yep I bribed them, sometimes worked.

At night I let them play quietly in their room after the nightly ritual of teethbrushing, reading and tucking in.
If they cried I reassured them and tucked them back in. If they still cried I'd check on them & let them cry. Eventually they learned how to calm themselves and go to sleep. I never had them sleep in my bed except for a few times when they were sick.

It's a really really frustrating time & no fun. Wishing you both a good nights sleep and a happier time getting there.

**kimmee** · 11-20-2004, 11:07 AM

I graduated them to their toddler bed once they started climbing out and if they stayed in bed for their nap or bedtime they got to do a special project with me when they got up - a little craft thing usually or a book and puppet show. With the graduation we had a big deal celebration about becoming a toddler!! Everyone applauding etc.

**AmyMCGS** · 11-20-2004, 03:23 PM

Thanks, girls.

As I type this, she is in her room screaming~ and I've never been big on the idea of letting her "cry it out", but, at this point it's either that or I can stay in the room and she can listen to mommy yell.

I stayed in the room with her, I held her, I talked to her.... and still she's crying, so I came downstairs for a few minutes before I started just completely lost my patience and started yelling back at her. (So far, so good, but she's REALLY pushing me today!) Right now, we both need naps!

My plan for bedtime as of now... assuming that at some point before then she does actually stop screaming and nap... is to bring in this big thick book of Bible stories and a chair and try reading. Now I just have to find that book before bedtime- I think it's still packed somewhere.

This, too, shall pass..... right?!

**mommy2many** · 11-20-2004, 03:36 PM

I always put them into a big girl bed at this point and put the gate in their doorway. Remove anything can hurt them fromt he room. Then I would read a book put the child into the bed and say goodnight, just like I had done with the crib. Then I would leave the room. Yes there was generally about two weeks where i felt like this

but it passed and they realized I wasn't coming in to get them and went to sleep. The trick is don't go get them, good luck...and yes this too shall pass!

**Missy** · 11-20-2004, 03:53 PM

It will pass. Hannah started climbing out this summer and finally I gave up and put her into a toddler bed. that made it safer for her climbing out. then after she realised i wan't going to cave in and go to her each time she pitched a fit (i would go if it sounded like she really needed me, but not for tantrums) she gave up and started going to bed. But int he two or so weeks in between i thought i was going to have to be admitted to the funny farm. hang in there.

**AmyMCGS** · 11-20-2004, 04:47 PM

After my last post (above) it suddenly got very quiet upstairs. I went to investigate, and found DD curled up asleep on the floor just inside her gate. It's adorable... and a little pathetic, the poor thing! (I want to take a pic but I'm not taking any chances that me moving around in the hall might wake her again.) Just having an hour or so of quiet has been very good for mommy's mental state!

**frugalmel** · 11-23-2004, 08:38 PM

Good luck Amy. Its hard, but stick to your guns. I made the mistake of letting my dkids in bed with me. Then it was (and still is with dd3 sometimes) lay down with me every night mom.