Hello Wise Mamas,
Our son- who is 2.5 has recently figured out that he can crawl out of his crib. He is driving us bananas with his use of this newfound freedom. As a preface, he was a terrible sleeper as a baby- and often did not nap more that 30 minutes during the day when he was an infant. He also is very easily overstimulated and very intelligent. Sometime around 18 months he started napping longer and sleeping through the night (8pm-7am) Needless to say we were very happy about it! Unfortunately, in the last month, he has started refusing to nap. We are enforcing a quiet time, but this involves taking him back to his room maybe eight times over the course of an hour. With an infant to care for as well, I need more down time myself. Now he is starting to act up in the evenings as well. We go through the bedtime ritual of bath, leg massage, story, and then he lies down only to be up countless times. I am so tired of taking him back to his room over and over. Tonight, I was about to lose it :), so my husband sat in the room until he fell asleep. While I appreciate my husband's patience, I am finding myself resentful that our son is taking up all of my down time and time with my husband. I suppose people might suggest I put a lock on his door to keep him there, but somehow that doesn't sit right with me. If you have dealt with this and made it to the other side, can you tell me something that could help us? Did you have to resort to a baby gate or something else to keep your child from constantly getting up? I really need some help! I know that I am probably missing something obvious because I am so sleep deprived! Thank you in advance.
How about moving him to a regular bed. That worked for my friend who was in a similar situation and he started to sleep great. Also you can put up a baby gate! and leave the door open. Good luck
Whatever you do - DO NOT lock him in his room.
This will cause fear, anger and a huge sense of mis-trust.
He's only 2 and 1/2, he won't understand the message except that yiou are abandoning him.
You are his security and he needs to be able to rely on you.
He's over tired and acting up because of that and you're exhausted and acting up because of that.
Try, try, try to be patient. If he keeps getting up, keep putting him back. If you are consistent, he'll get it eventually.
I do empathise, it isn't easy and sleep deprivation is torturous but I promise you this is a phase and it too shall pass. Try not to give in - you'll get there.
Hi S.,
Please email me at ____@____.com, and I will send you this fantastic on-line book called "Sleep Sense Program". This book changed my family's life. My little girl (29 months now)was doing something similar at a younger age and this book gave me the tools to deal with and correct it.
But basically, he's yanking your chain, and unfortunatly you will just have to keep putting him back in his crib. The main thing is to be consistant, and don't talk to him when you put him back in it. This can take days, even longer to work. I understand that you may have already been doing this for days, but it just takes time, and pacience, but it will eventually work. I found with my daughter, that a very strict bedtime rutine worked for her. Same time for bedtime, brush teeth and 3 books in ber bed. I read the same 3 books to her in the same order every time for weeks, ending with the same one so she knew exactly what to expect , I also reminded her that after this book it was bedtime, and she was going to stay in her bed. Yes, it took weeks of crying when I left her room BUT now, she stays in her bed, and sleeps through the night (although she is an early riser)It works for me. Please contact me for this book. (and anyone else who might need it)
Take care and good luck!
M.
holy man! you made it to 2 1/2 in a crib? My dd was out of her's at 17 months... not by my choice. We cleared her room that night a started by putting her crib mattress on the floor. She's been in a toddler bed since about a week or two after that. She doesn't fall out; but yes, she too enjoyed her freedom and ran and played. We mounted her radio and tv to a shelf high on the wall and ran the extension cords out the door and plugged them in the hall. That way she could still have a nightlite and her music; but not play in the outlet/with the cord. We turned her doorknob around so that the lock was on the outside and just lock her in. We have a 2 story house and I could see her wandering to the stairs... hanging out downstairs with the dogs... ugh. I also have a camera mounted in her room. We can log on or get the feed on the TV downstairs... and there's a hand held receiver too. This keeps her from jumping; we can usually catch her by then. She eventally got adjusted to her surroundings and we have no issues now.
p.s. I don't know if this matters; but she does not play in her room. She has a toy room and the den to play in. I don't know if playing in her room would have interrupted our "sleep training" that bedroom is for bedtime. Just a thought.
Good luck!
K.
