NEED Advice on Transitioning My 14 Month Old BACK to Her Crib & Out of My Bed!

When I was going through this transition with my 10 month old son there was a lot of crying (some mine, but mostly his). My mom said to me "They don't want to be in charge." Those words really changed my approach.

If she wakes up your other kids for a few days, it's OK. It's a vacation and they can sleep late the next day. They'll live. Just suck it up and have some really rotten nights. She'll scream and protest and break your heart, but she will go back to sleep on her own. Just check on her, lie her down tell you that you love her and leave the room. Repeat every few minutes. She will wear herself down and go to sleep. It may take an hour or more. But the next night it will take less time. Once she knows you're serious that this is the way it's going to be from now on, she'll be fine. But you've got to really commit to this. She'll be fine and won't remember after a week.

Check on her as often as you like. But if she (like my daughter) settles better on her own, then leave her to her own devices.

She is not a helpless baby at 14 months, she is a toddler who is learning how to manipulate you. I know it's hard when it's probably your last baby. It's tough love, but you are teaching her a valuable life skill, and it's really effective.

Maturity, like anything else worth having, does not come easily. Just remember, you're in charge.

Best of luck to you!

I have been having a similar problem with my 11 month old daughter. What has been working is I actually JUST got her a Little Einsteins version of the Ocean Wonders Aquariun and she loves it. I put it on when I put her in her crib (awake) and she stares at it and falls asleep quickly with no problems.. You could also try one of those projector type baby night lights, that project pictures on the ceiling, that might work also.. good luck!

I had a similar problem with my 22 month old, so I feel your frustration. Life got better when we moved him into a full size bed. Although still slightly dysfunctional, we just lie down with him in his bed (most of the time)or we sit in the hallway where he can see us until he falls asleep. He no longer wants to sleep in our bed, and most of the time we are able to successfully sneak back to our bed.

W. I am planning on the Christmas vacation too. My son is now 16 mos and he starts by sleeping in his bed and wakes up every 3 hours did I mention I am still breastfeeding so the holidays the kids won't mind for that week. Did I also mention his crib is in my room. That's coming out*-* good luck let me know how it goes for you...Happy Holidays!

Hi,

This is a common problem, but you can get a handle on it, don't worry. The key is to show your child that you're in control and that you won't CHANGE YOUR MIND. It's hard, but you'll get the reward of reclaiming your bed, so each time you're tempted to cave, DON'T.

We had this issue with my three year old son after he got sick and needed hospitalization, etc. We felt bad so brought him to our bed for comfort. Then, he got used to it and would come up every night and want to sleep with us. After a while of allowing it, we decided no more and would bring him back down to his bed (no matter how many times it took, he could keep it up all night.) After about a week, he no longer came up, he knew it wasn't going to work.

Additionally, we put a radio in his room and turned on soothing music at a low volume. That seemed to help him stay in his room, the feeling that he wasn't alone, I think. We tried the light show things you can buy, but that seemed to keep him stimulated and up. I do know, it works for some kids, though, so you could try one of those things. Whatever you do, stick to the fact that you're not allowing the child in your bed and it may take some time, but you'll win eventually.

Good luck!

I don't know how useful this thought will be, but here it is. HAve you considered, and I know it's a pain in the butt, putting the crib/cradle next to you up against the bed. Slowly moving away from you and keep moving it as she gets adjusted, towards her new room, or to the other side of your room. Also, with my son, I found that a musical night light helped him. He slept in my room with me, in his crib, until he was a year old. Then we moved him to his own room, 1 door down from mine. I hope everything works out for you. Just don't pull your hair out. ood luck.

A.

Hi W.,
My neighbor had this problem right up till her son was 4. Over the summertime she wanted to get him in his own bed and his own room. She did the whole getting a new bed with side rails on it and the most important feature was a LAVA LAMP. Belive it or not. We had a yard sale and she was selling a lava lamp from her college years. We had it plugged in and everything. Her son fell in love with it. So she made a deal with him. She would put it in his room when he slept in it. No word of a lie it only took two nights and he was sleeping on his own and has been ever since. I know that if they get use to sleeping in your bed when they are in a crib it just doesn't feel right. She got him a full size bed set from her mother and put two bed rails on it. May be it is time for a toddler bed and a lava lamp in her fav color. Making a special room for her or with her sisters can be fun for her. Her ped. Dr. Told her that since he was in a bed with her and her husband he would never take to sleeping in a crib. She tried for years to get him into one. After the bed and the lava lamp went in he was fine. I hope that this helped and I wish you all the luck in the world. OH and one more thing... the reason why she is sleeping with you is that she is your third and you want to keep your BABY a BABY for ever. I didn't sleep with my last one but I sure as heck babied her more then my other two. HAPPY HOLIDAY TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY B.