Hellobee Boards

Ugh I feel ya! Usually takes us 45minutes to get DD to sleep

@Mrs. High Heels: charlie's sleep was the same for a year+ after we transitioned him from the crib to a bed. we couldn't keep him in the crib around 26 months because he kept climbing out with his sleep sack and could easily fall and hurt himself (the sleep sack kept him in there a couple more months at least!).

we tried a lot of different things! you really have to experiment. what worked for us ultimately was leaving a lamp on with a very dim bulb (i think ours is 15 watt now) or a nightlight. they start to have more fears/nightmares at that age. we also let charlie sleep with the door wide open.

and yes we did use a door lock for a little while and yes that helped!

@Cchoi4: ugh I feel your pain! - we had to lock my DS's door - it was getting ridiculous with him up and out of the bed 30 times at night - I was exhausted and we had to do something! We flipped the handle around and locked it from the outside - once he was asleep we would unlock it so he could come out if he woke later in the night - he was also 3 yrs old

We never had leaving his room but calling us repeated for this and that and everything! What worked was being firm, even if it meant some tears. He still does it but these day I try to tell him he has to sleep b/c he has to do this or that the next morning. Sometimes incentives helps but I'd prefer not to. I've used a door lock on the inside for a very long time too. I think that alone prevented him from even attempting to leave his room, but not from calling us repeatedly. I agree with @Mrs. Bee: in that you have to experiment and see what works for him. I have a feeling our second will have a whole different set of issues when it's time to switch to the toddler rail on his crib. My oldest never used a toddler rail b/c it just didn't make sense to switch it only to switch it back. He was in his crib until a little after he turned 3 when we had to move his little brother into his room. The sleep sack worked really well for us. I think their crib is just impossible to climb out of with a sleep sack. I hope you find something that works for you so you all can get some rest.

I have two days worth of experience. Okay, one bedtime and one nap time.

We transitioned Chloe yesterday. Nap time was horrendous. Maybe she just wasn't sleepy? Bedtime was a little different. We tried bribing and pleading, but in the end here's what worked:

- I made up a super lame big girl bed song. Trust me, it's lame.
- I told her she's got a bed just like her princesses (her little people castle)
- we tucked her princesses to sleep in their big girl bed
- and then we did our normal bedtime routine
- we also told her that she can't get out of bed unless she asked

AND IT WORKED.

Today, she declared nap time 40 minutes earlier than we normally would go in her room. She climbed in bed herself, asked me for the big girl bed song, we read a book and did hugs and kisses. She told me she's not a baby anymore (!!!) and she loves her big girl bed.

Trying not to jinx myself because damn that turned out to be easy, but hoping my suggestions work for you!

@Cchoi4: Last night he got up twice and I calmly led him back to bed and patted him for a few minutes. I also put his star turtle nightlight on. He didn't complain too much and went back to sleep in his own bed each time. I consider that a win, even though he did get up twice.