"Major" Sleep Changes After Toddler Bed Conversion

Of course he's going to get out of bed now, that is the fun of it, isn't it? I'll bet once he is used to his new situation then he'll go back to his normal sleeping. At that age, my son slept about 11 hours at night and took a 2 hour nap.

I would ditch the crib all together and get him a regular twin sized bed. Cribs are hardly comfy and cozy and rather small anyway so I would skip it as well as skip a toddler bed. We got my son a Little Tykes race car bed which we loved. My son loved the novelty of sleeping in a car and I loved it because the sides were slightly higher so he didn't fall out. We also got him some cool sports bedding that he helped pick out. After you put him to bed, I would just hang outside his room and when he gets up the first time, explain it is bedtime etc, then everytime after the first time he gets up, with no talking, put him straight back in bed. It is exhausting but after awhile he'll stop trying.

I also like the first persons idea of rewarding him for staying in bed, rewards work great for stuff like this. I would definately avoid laying down with him or you are going to make it a habit and be doing it for years to come.

With my son, who actually didn't get out of bed for some reason, I think he was afraid to, I took his ocean wonders aquarium and taped it to the side of his bed so he could still listen to the music he was used to. He was 2 1/2 when we first introduced our son to his new bed. So, music may be a good idea to help. Good luck :)

We went through this at 20 months with our son. He suddenly stopped taking 2 naps (one 90 mins; one 3 hrs) and started taking just one 1 hr nap (on occasion we get 2 hrs, but its rare). He also stopped sleeping 13 hrs overnight and cut back to 10-11 hrs at most.

At that same time we did the toddler bed conversion because our son was climbing out of his crib. After 2 months of hell and fighting to get him to sleep and him waking up several times overnight, we switched him to a twin bed. From the first night in the twin bed he has gone to bed without any problems.

My daughter went through this at eighteen months. She refused to sleep for 3 weeks including naps and was terrible! to say the least--and then slept for a week 24 hours a day. Did this for 3 times.

I finally solved my situation by increasing physical activity-swimming and gymnastics and removing the nap. I know that removing the nap makes you want to cry. Think what I felt when I had to remove the nap for an 18 month old. I cried.

I would try upping the excise level.

Our son was similar. This is going to sound very rough, but here's what we did: we took everything out of his room except his dresser and bed. We put a child-proofing thing over the closet door so he couldn't go in there. We also put one on the inside of his bedroom door. We went through our normal bedtime routine, kissed him good-night, and closed the door. He would cry and scream for a while, but he was contained and he eventually learned that nothing had changed. He still needed to go to sleep, and we still were not going to go into his room at every whimper. It took less than a week for him to sleep in there for naps and bed.

Good luck!

I had these kind of issues, sort of when my kids were younger. and what worked pretty good was telling them since they are now in a big kid bed, they had to stay in their bed like a big kid. And we would reward them.. tell them you will do something exciting that they like to do the next day.. like go to the park or whatever it is they like to do or play with play doh or something like that but tell them they couldnt do it if they got out of bed.. And that seemed to help. My 3rd child is one who doesnt need much sleep.. she stopped taking all naps at about 2 maybe even a little before that and she is 4 now. she sleeps about 10 hours at night. So as far as a shorter nap, maybe he is getting to the point where he doesnt require as much sleep. And another tip, since you stay in his room til he falls asleep you can start to wean him from that by moving farther away from his bed every couple of days til you get out of the room while he is still partially awake. He will learn that you are still there for him but he doesnt need you right there next to him. And maybe perhaps a favorite stuffed animal or something to sleep with will help. Hope some of this info helped! Good luck!

Maybe he needs to get used to the change of the bed. That happened to both of my kids. The changed bed and the freedom are both new.
This helped us when we took the kids to bed: Bedtime routine, then we went out of the room and closed the door. I usually stayed in front of the room and every time they appeared at the bedroom door I took them back, telling them that it is alright, we are here but now, but it is bedtime (firmly but patient and lovingly, as you probably assumed). It took us about 20 times the first night, then the number of "comebacks" decreased and after 2 - 4 weeks everything was OK. Just stick to the routine and do not give up!

Good luck to you all.

My co worker had issue with his son, they had to put the crib back up for a while as they transitioned him too soon.

If that is a route you want to check into, they a have a crib tent that you can put in the crib and they can not climb out so it is safe.

As with any change, it takes time.

Good luck.