Sleeping in His Own Bed...

I learned a trick on "Super Nanny"(of all places!) It worked well for me. Put your son into his bed, tuck him in, and then sit quietly outside his room without talking or making eye contact. When he gets up, put him back without saying anything or making eye contact. Continue until he finally stays in bed. It may take a while (the first night I sat outside my daughters room for over an hour and put a screaming child back into bed at least 30 times). The second night was easier, and after 3 or 4 nights, she got it. She pretty much stays in her bed now. Ocassionally I find her sleeping on the floor behind her door, but she doesn't come out of the room. It's worth a try...good luck!

D., I believe we all go through this. My daughter is 17 months and will always start off in the crib but somehow she will end up in my bed. I myself really can't tolerate the cry out method so I give into that quickly. I usually just lay with my daughter in my bed and then transition her to her crib or I just hold her a little in my lap and she falls right out once I put her in her crib she is out for the night. It took me a long time to keep patient. So I can just imagine what your going through with 3 kids. Hope this works

I can feel your frustration D.. I have a two year old son who had trouble sleeping in his toddler bed when we moved into a new home. I believe it was because of nightmares from being in a new place, so I give him a little ego boost if you will every night before bed.

After we read our story of the night, I sing "You are My Sunshine". My way of letting him know he is special. Then we go through the super heroes. I tell him he is my Super Man, Spider Man, Batman, Peter Pan, Lightening McQueen, and my Tow Mater. Then like in the movie 'Cars' I tell him I made a good choice and he is my best friend. He smiles and gets comfortable and hasn't cried a night since.

I found that after I started giving him the feeling that he was mommy's superhero he wasn't as afraid. Now he wakes up in the morning runs in my room and tells me "good morning...its your best friend". Most men need a lil ego boost sometimes - a lil extra confidence.

Hope it works for you.

Mom of Chase and Cole

Hi D.

I also have a two-year old boy. Soon after turning 2 he started having dreams/nightmares. He wouldn't want to sleep in his crib and when we'd finally get him to sleep there, he would wake up crying in the middle of the night and not want to go back to sleep. We realized that he was having dreams and of course we did everything to reassure him. What finally worked was turning off the nightlight (because he was afraid of the shadows) and leaving his bedroom door open. It took a couple of weeks but over time he felt secure in his crib again and now he sleeps like he used to before he turned 2.

A couple of my friends have also gone trough the same situation with their 2-year olds and they discovered as well that their child was afraid of going to sleep.

May be your son is having dreams or may be he is afraid of something in his room and that's why he doesn't want to sleep there.

I feel for you D.!
I have a 28 month old who won't sleep in his bed either! My husband and I even got a king size bed so we ALL can sleep there comfortably! :-)