What are some things I can do to get my son in bed earlier and in his own bed? He is only 14 months old but he takes up the whole bed!
Theres the thing, he used to sleep in his own bed. Until he got sick, since he was sick he has been with us. He hasnt been sick now for about two weeks.
Put a twin mattress on the floor in your room, start by lying with him and move to your own bed. He'll get used to sleeping alone, then put the mattress in his room and start by lying with him and then leave after he's asleep. Work on bed time after you've got him sleeping by himself.
start easing him into his crib. start with naps. let him dose off them put him in their when he wakes up rock him back to sleep then put him bak in there. once he gets the hang of it do it at night night. same routine, be persistant and patient and you will have your bed back before you know it. i had to do this with my son i couldn't take him in my bed any longer.
How is it that little bitty toddlers can take up the whole bed?! I am still trying to figure that one out w/ my 17 month old... He sleeps in the crib most nights all through, but he is teething... Teeth are terrible things aren't they!? lol. Anyway, before you try, be sure you are not weaning him off anything and no teeth are coming through and he isn't sick. I think also if he is clingy, then at this stage, being 14 months may not be a good idea for a transition... You can try. I am sitting in my boys' room waiting for my youngest to go to sleep right now because I refuse and think it is cruel to let him "cry it out" (Ferber actually said that what we call the Ferber method is not what he meant at all!)
We started by putting him in the crib during the day to play so it isn't a scary unfamiluar place. Then start putting him in when he is close to sleep, after of course a bedtime routine of sorts, you may have to stand there and rock him back and forth. Keep doing it until he stays asleep.
Next step is a while later, when he is more used to it, put him in the crib at night after getting ready for bed. Sing, or put music on. My babe likes a light up aquarium thingy for the crib, and his Scout Pal Dog (a leap frog toy). He now thinks he needs to get up to start the aquarium when it stops! LOL
Then do what I am doing now, sit and let him go to sleep. You can sing, pat his back, hold his hand. Whatever helps. The next step... Well, I need to get there! LOL! Hang tight, before he is 18 years old you should not have to have hime hogging the bed!
Definitely take it slowly since he is used to sleeping in your own bed. At this point it would be cruel to let him cry it out and it would make the crib a terrifying place to be. By gradually weaning him off your bed and your actions to help him fall asleep it'll go alot smoother. As for the earlier bedtime--watch his cues. If it is difficult for him to get to sleep later it is probably because he is overtired at that point. Around 7:30 I'd start watching to see cues for sleep- eye rubbing, less active, clingy. Start the bedtime routine immediately and then consistently follow this routine every night. Make sure the t.v. and other stimulating activities are off (dance music, etc.) My daughter fights bedtime more if the t.v. is on. Be patient and remember this is all he knows! I'd try looking into the Baby Whisperer as well--no CIO method that worked well for me (with time)
Oh and since this has only been a temporary situation--it'll be way easier. Did he fall asleep on his own before the sickness in his own crib? Try returning to his pre-illness routine with some modifications if he pitches a fit. I'd still recommend Baby Whisperer
Does he take naps in his own crib? I'd start by simply putting him in there at bedtime. Keep everything else about the bedtime routine the same, but put him in his own crib. It'll probably be a rough transition at first with some crying. You'll have to have a plan for how to deal with it. You could let him cry, or see if you lying on the floor in his room with help. But, you just have to go for it.
OMG isn't it amazing how they can do that!LOL! I slept with all my kids and still do with my 20 mo old. It doesn't matter where I lay her down she always ends up right up against me and pushing me off the bed!(matress on floor) basically I have no advice for you since I am going through the same thing, other than I keep putting her back where she started throught the night. I even surround her with body pillows and she rolls right over them!!! As far as getting them to bed earlier I just started bringing them upstairs an hour earlier, I blacked out their windows with a dark sheet so even when it's still light out they can't see. My kids always went to bed late and I mean late..10-11pm!! The tantrums were unbearable and it was my own fault for letting them get overtired! My thinking was if they go to bed late they will sleep later in the am, WRONG! Now I get them asleep between 8:30 and 9pm and guess what...they still sleep til 9 or 9:30am! It's been 3 nights and so far so good!! Good luck!!!
Put him in his own bed.
