Transition to Toddler Bed

Hello C., I had similar concerns with my 2yr. old son and my pediatrician suggested putting a gate at the door so if she/he does wake up in the middle of the night, they aren't wondering about in the middle of the night. Good luck to you!

I hate to break it to you, but your little girl is not ready for a toddler bed. Is there a particular reason you transitioned her? Or she needs a new game plan...

My son is now 28 months old, and I tried at the same age to transition him and he did the same thing your daughter is doing. We went back to square one, after I did a bunch of research and read a bunch about transitioning to the 'toddler bed'. Right now, we do naps in the 'big boy' bed and it works some days, other days not so much. I just don't make it a big issue. According to a lot of research, the transition doesn't HAVE to happen until kids are climbing out of the bed and displaying discomfort or new independence.

I have friends who have suggested a bunch of things...

1. Let them make their room their own...pick out bedsheets, decorations and stuff like that.
2. Work up discussions about the bed, and how it's new and exciting.
3. Help them see it's no different from the crib...just new and special.
4. Help them understand you are still there, in spite of the change in bed.
5. Sleep on a mattress in kids room, while transition occurs and slowly move yourself out of the room.
6. Sleep together on the floor of their room.
7. Keep crib and toddler bed in same room, until ready to move to toddler bed.

I think so many things play into the transition...this is a huge step for little ones. In fact, I am following so much of this advice...it just takes time to find what works for you.

Create a routine that involves the bed and makes it a part of her routine, without just expecting her to sleep in this new environment. Essentially, her comfort zone was swipped out from under her and she doesn't get it.

I would so some research, and show your hubby the facts about the crib and what it really takes to transition. Your little girl just needs some extra time, and a little guidance.

Try putting the crib mattress on your bedroom floor. I did that and my daughter knew if she needed to be near us, she could use her own bed in our bedroom. Good luck with all the developmental stages of her life.

My advice: put the crib back for her. Don't mess with a good sleep situation. My oldest was in her crib until almost four! We tried to transition her to avoid buying another crib for baby #2 and it was our biggest parenting mistake ever. She hated it, slept on the floor, came to our room, begged for her crib back. I would take her out of the crib unless she is climbing out in the night.

Hope this helps,
G.

that's what most parents complain about when they move their children into a toddler bed..i'm holding out til my son is 3..b/c he's learned to open doors...there is a little alarm clock that u can buy that teaches children when it is a certain color its not ok to go into mommy and daddy's room..
maybe you should try it out.. here is a link www.americaninnovative.com/buy/

She is only 22 months. That is kind of young to sleep independently all night without problems. I would just do what you can to get back to sleep as fast as you can. whatever works for you. If that means doing the thing that Supernanny does or going to sit with her in her room when she wakes up or even putting a blanket on your floor of your room for her. You will get all kinds of advice. Just try the ones that seem like they will work, then keep doing the one that works best for you. Night time can be really scary for little kids. Provide her with all the love and reassurance that she needs. Best of luck.

Hi C.:

I have a couple of ideas. First of all, where was her crib? In another room? I transitioned both of my kids at 18 months from the family bed to the toddler bed but I placed it right next to my bed. You don't want to make your child anxious. Instead of backtracking all the way back to the crib, maybe you could try the toddler bed next to your side of your bed? After she gets secure again, move it a foot or so closer to the door every night. Then do what the other Mama said and have her decorate her room for the big graduation (to the bed being IN her room!).

The other thing is: When do you put her down to sleep? If you put her down at 8 p.m., then she's had six entire hours of sleep by 2 a.m. and it makes sense that she's up. If you're open to family bed at all, I'd nurse her and send her back. My kids would sometimes show up, nurse and then disappear back into their rooms. No crying, no noise, and everyone got a good night's sleep!

Best wishes,

M.

Hi C.,
This is totally normal. All kids do this at first because they are free! If your daughter was happy in the crib and not climbing out then she probably could have stayed longer. We tried putting a gate in my son's room to keep him in but that didn't work. He also kept asking for the crib after we took it down - despite the fact that he hated the crib. That being said, my son is 6 now and he still sleeps with us every night so I can't really advise how to get your daughter back in bed. But if you can convince your husband to put the crib back you might be the best solution until your daughter is a little older.

Good luck!

It will just take time like other things. Be patient and firm-don't give in. We went thorugh this with our daughter for a week or two. My favorite pic of her was taken the morning we found her sound asleep in her doorway during that first week. You can put a gate in the door way so she isn't wandering, especially if it's a 2 stroy house. We took my daughter out around 16 months since we needed the crib for #2. It's good you did it now so she doesn't feel thrown out when you have another.

Any change for your daughter could cause her to become upset and wake up in the middle of the night - especially changing up her sleeping routine (bed). I transitioned my little guys to their toddler beds at about 2 years b/c they were trying to crawl out of the cribs and it was a safety hazard. If that's the case then I wouldn't go back to the crib.

It may take a month or two of her waking up and you having to soothe her back to sleep in her toddler bed since she has just begun sleeping through the night. My little guys took a little while to get used to the idea that they had to stay in their beds...they would end up in each other's bed or on the floor together with their blankets. Eventually they stayed in their own beds - it's a process just like everything else!
Good luck and God bless,
A.

Hi there.
My daughter is 19 months old and thought about putting her in a toddler bed very soon. I submitted a request last week about it to all the moms and I got some great advise. After reading them, I decieded that my daughter was just not ready yet. (she isn't trying to climb out yet)

This is my advise to you.
My sister had a very similar problem as you. I called her one day around 9:30 pm and she was at her whits end with her 2 year old boy. He kept gettting out of his bed all the time for the last few days.
And this is what I told her.
"You need to put him back in his bed and walk out. If he gets out of the bed, go right back in there and put him back into the bed. DON'T TALK TO HIM!!!! Just keep doing it over and over and over.....until he stays in it. Be strong and don't back down!!!! Keep putting him back into the bed."
By the end of the phone call she was pumped. I got a phone call an hour later. She told me that it was the hardest thing she had ever done. She would put him back into bed with him screaming and running into his closet to hide. This lasted almost and hour, but FINALLY he stayed in his bed and cried himself to sleep.
I swear... every day after that, there was no problems putting him down to sleep. Yes, my sister had to threaten him a few times. (yes, he remembered that night)
But, she was so happy!
This is a method I saw on Super Nanny. She uses it all of the time. And it works every time. My sister is proof.
I'm sure it will be really hard to see you daughter so upset, but it will be worth it in the end.
Good luck!

Maybe when she wakes bring her in bed to cuddle and then move her to her own bed when sound asleep.
It really takes time. Good luck!