How Do You Keep Them in the Bed?

I never did the family bed but my daughter had a stage where she loved sleeping in my bed. (It all started when she slept in my bed because she was sick.) I made a deal with her - if she stayed in her bed during the week, then she could take her Saturday and Sunday afternoon nap in 'mommy's big bed'. If she went a few weeks of not getting out, then we'd have a 'sleep over' where she could sleep in my bed on a Friday or Saturday night. This actually happened about once a month. (It helped that my husband sleeps in a separate room due to snoring!)

I never did the gate because her bedroom is separated enough from the TV/computer area that I wouldn't hear her if she needed to get out prior to me going to bed.

Good luck,
J.

Peyton did this and we actually started a star system with her. For every night she stayed in her own bed, she earned a star. When she had so many (I think we did 10) then I'd take her to the store and she could select a treat. It worked like a charm.

If that doesn't work then I'd do the gate next.

Just put a gate in her doorway....... lots of people do it, and then if she gets up and can't get out (and as long as you don't tend to her every wim) I think she'll eventually get the idea and go to bed and stay there

A., Please let me know what works for you. I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old that do the same thing. And you are right the last resort is a gate. I've threaten them with it already =). Thanks, K.

I did the gate with my daughter when we first put her in a big girl bed at 18 months old. After the first week she figured out that staying in her bed was the norm and then we rarely had problems after that. Now she is 2 1/2 and we don't need the gate any more. Once it becomes habit for them they should conform on their own.

Good luck!