Should We Go Back to Cribs?

we had to put our twin boys (now 2 1/2) in beds (also did mattresses on the floor first) at 18 months. Yep, 18 months because they could get out of the cribs and our pediatrician freaked out because of the danger of them hurting themselves. I took EVERYTHING out of their room except the beds and dresser, tethered the dresser to the wall studs, and only have a lamp and fan (for white noise) pushed all the way against the wall on the dresser.

Then we got one of those "clam shell" thingies for the door knob so they can't open it. Essentially locked in all night unless we opened the door for them.

For the first few weeks, they ran around like wild animals and literally picked up the mattresses and had "pillow fights" with them. We would find them in the morning in all sorts of crazy configurations, at times with one boy sleeping on top of the other! They slept on the floor next to the mattresses, and then on the floor UNDER the bed for a while, too. It was just something they had to get used to. Toddler sized sleep sacks worked well to make sure they were warm since blankets were out of the question.

Is there any way you can close the door and let your son work it out on his own? If he's not scared and just walking around, why can't he just walk around in his room? He'll fall asleep eventually. Remind him before he goes to sleep every night that this is sleeping time and he is to stay in bed and be quiet. I still have to do that! Use a monitor if it makes you feel better (I did-- mounted it to the wall behind the dresser so they couldn't grab at the cord or pull it off the dresser).

I know you're so tired and really need rest, but I think going back to cribs is a bad idea. I would be shocked if your boys weren't too big for the crib tents. God forbid they get hurt falling or getting tangled in the tent. From what you've noted and my own experience, I would say this is just a transition period that you all need to work through.

could he sleep with his twin and put the gate at his door instead of at the top of the stairs?

I agree with Helen-you could just child proof the door knob, close the door so he can't get out of the room.

are hey potty training? if not, 1) child proof th dooror 2) put a gate at the door, my son sleps in a toddler bed now, i just shut the door, becuse he isn't tall enough to reach the handle when i come to get him in to morning he's in his bed sometimes, but most of the time he crawls out of bed and grabs his teddy bear, pillow and blanket and lays in he floor, cause he palys in the middle of the night. if there is a closet in the troom, make sure the door is shut. I'm 22 and i have to have the closet door shut because my imagination plays tricks on me. i wouldn't put them back in cribs if only one is having probems. it could set them both back. when hey start potty training just put their potty chairs in the room with them. good luck

When my boys transitioned to big boy beds I put a baby gate at the door of their room. At first there were a few nights one would fall asleep on the floor at the gate, but I always knew they were safe in their room. When he gets up I would simply put him back to bed and tell him it is also mommy's sleep time and he needs to stay in bed and sleep. Now he knows he can get you to stay and keep him company at night and he is exploiting that. You have to teach him what you expect him to do, not cater to what he wants, or he will never learn good sleep habits. It may be hard at first and there will probably be some tears, but if you hold firm things should get better soon.

Crib tents are awesome but I wouldn't go back to the cribs, expecially if one of your boys is happily sleeping in the bed. Try to find out from your son if there is something that he is afraid of. Were the cribs closer together than the beds are now? Move them closer if they are far apart.
May be he needs a 'lovey' (stuffed animal or special blanket). If you wear purfume you could mist one side of his pillow & put the misted side down so it's not directly on his face. Continue the soft music. You could put his mattress on the floor & see if that helps. We put a hardware mounted baby gate in our son's door way to keep him in his room so I wouldn't have to worry about him wondering the house while we slept.
I hope you can get this resolved!

God bless!