DD won't stay in bed

**AmyMCGS** · 09-12-2005, 02:23 PM

We went through this about a year ago, when she learned to climb out of her crib. After about a month she finally started sleeping through the night in her toddler bed, with a gate across her room door.

This week, she's been sick. One night I put her in bed with me (DH was working night shift) rather than get up with her every two hours. Well, since that night she's thrown tantrums, screaming herself hoarse, not wanting to stay in her room. Last night she climbed out over the gate and was coming down the steps when I caught her.

She's two, almost two and a half. Any suggestions??

**Kimberlina** · 10-02-2005, 06:46 PM

How are things going? I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions as we still do the family bed thing.

(I know, controversial, but when your infant has health problems, you do whatever you have to do to get them to sleep. I had to hold her every night! We just haven't broken her of the habit yet.)

**Kimberlina** · 10-02-2005, 06:53 PM

Adding that I don't hold her every night. Just haven't broken her of sleeping in our room. We have two beds in there.

**AmyMCGS** · 10-03-2005, 11:48 AM

I did the family bed thing when she was smaller--- before she took up 3/4 of the bed at night.

Now she kicks and squirms a lot, so we had moved her into her own bed for the last year or so.

DH had surgery this week, and with all the stress, I've just temporarily given up. DH can't come upstairs to the bedroom anyways (in a large leg cast), so, he's sleeping on the sofa sleeper downstairs and she's still sleeping with me.

Our plan is to go get her a twin bed soon. Maybe if it's more like our bed she'll stay in it, as opposed to her toddler bed now.

**AmyMCGS** · 10-03-2005, 01:00 PM

Oh-- and DD was a preemie with reflux, and that's how she started sleeping with us, too--- we'd have to hold her upright at night after feedings.

**Kimberlina** · 10-03-2005, 01:43 PM

Ahh, reflux. That was it for us, too. DD still has tracheo- and laryngomalacia and was in pain if she was laid down on her back. Since you aren't supposed to lay babies down on th bellies, she wouldn't sleep at all unless we held her. She does okay now, it is just making the transition that is going to be a challenge. We actually bought her an Amby baby hammock when she was an infant (it is an Australian baby bed) but she was rolling over at 6 weeks, so it caused problems with that....

Anyway, I'm sure you will get things all straightened out with your DD.

**inneedofhope** · 10-09-2005, 11:51 PM

Sometimes I think it just makes more sense to just let them sleep with you than to go through crying and screaming and such at the end of a hard day. I stay with my son until he's asleep then sneak out of his room, but he usually wakes up and comes in my bed in the wee hours. I sleep better without him, but he seems to sleep better with me. Despite the whole controversy over sleep, I'd be willing to bet there are a lot more little ones in their parents beds than you'd think.
I slept with my sisters when I was little, and my mom shared a bed with her sister when she was little, too. I think it makes a big difference that my son is an only child so he is alone in his room, when I never was until I was 7 or 8 or so.
I had a psych prof once who asked the class how many of us slept alone and how many slept with a partner or spouse, and which did they prefer. I think he was in favor of the family bed, and the idea that people thrive on emotional attachments.
Anyway, if you decide it's time for her to go back into her own bed they say the key is to be consistant, and just keep putting her back when she comes in, let her have her tantrums, but don't give in, and eventually she'll get over it.
I wonder if the twin size will help. too. My son is getting one soon as well and I'm hoping he will be more comfortable sleeping on it.

**mommy2many** · 10-10-2005, 08:22 AM

My youngest has started this too and she is also the same age as your little one. At first it drove me crazy I need my sleep and I cannot sleep with her in bed. DH loves it when she sleeps with us...snuggle time...whatever. To me after being "mom" for 14-16 hours a day I am too tired to be snuggling up to a toddler when I need to sleep.

Our solution...for now anyway is to let her sleep on the couch. SHe falls asleep there while we are having family time and she sleeps either there or I move her to her bed before we go to bed. It stopped the screaming and tantrums and she still gets sleep and most important so do I