Sleep Changes in 22 Mo

This is a tough stage. They realize they can just move freely around the house! LOL
We ended up gating my son's room after he was out of the crib b/c his doorway was at the top of the stairs. He cried and spent some (many) nights on the floor of his room instead of his toddler bed, but he got it eventually.
You've gotta be firm if you are sure you don't want her to sleep with you.
Have you tried a CD player on "repeat" playing all night?
That helped my son. Sorry--I've got nothing else for ya!
Good luck. Hang in there. I wouldn't want to go through that stage again!

I say whatever helps your child go to sleep. We as parents and the crazy daily routines we have, we do not want to fight our toddlers with bedtime, we also need sleep! So if the tv helps her sleep, then so be it! I fall asleep with the tv on everynight and i sleep fine. As long as your child is not staying up all night watching it, she should get plenty of sleep. I dont believe all the studies that these scientists or whoever do. But to make sure she is getting sleep, set a timer on the tv to shut off in a certain amount of time, for ex. set it to shut off in 30 minutes.

As for the shutting the door and making sure it has a child-proof door handle cover on the other side so your child cant open the door. Well out of curiousity, does this mean you just ignore your child who is in there screaming cause they have the feeling they are locked in? I dont know, but i think that is very mean! If you really listen to nanny shows or read articles in the parents magazine, they tell you that you just have to explain bedtime routine to your child and make sure you stick to the same routine every night. If they get out of bed, you get up and put them back in until they fall asleep. If this lasts an hour then so be it. Well good luck, i am battling sleep time myself since my 2 yr old decided his bedtime was no longer 9pm, it is now in between 10-11pm.

Hi M.--This sounds very challenging! I think if the TV soothes your daughter, and co-sleeping (even just co-sleeping for a bit, then transferring to bed) is not an option, I'd give her the TV. Whatever ill effects may have been shown in a study, I certainly don't think falling asleep peacefully with a show could ever be worse for you than crying yourself to sleep alone. It's a gentler, kinder choice, and she won't be 22 months, with needs like these, forever. Be attentive and watchful, and other solutions might also emerge. Some great advice I got recently, is to stop looking for One Perfect Solution--try to find several methods that work fairly well, at different times, on different days, and be flexible and creative. Good luck!

When my oldest was just in a toddler bed, I thought the tv would help. It didn't. He would watch whatever was on and then be at his door (gated) just yelling for someone. It was impossible to ignore since we lived in an apartment and he could see us in the living room.
My second son was better, but tried to climb over the gate. I double gated him eventually. One over the other. I was worried because he was upstairs. He was not as loud though. I did read to him and lay with him on his tiny bed many nights.
I'm awaiting the transition with my now 20 month old. I am in NO hurry to get him into a bed. I plan on waiting till he climbs out or falls out (which is what happened with my 2nd son).
All kids are different. Don't feel bad if the tv works for you. I would try other things first, but whatever works, use it! If your child is used to the door being closed that could be a plus while she's too small to open it.
GOOD LUCK!!!

I agree with previous posters who say 'nip it in the bud'. (but I'm a heartless CIO mommy) She's too young to be roaming about--my son is still in his crib, knock wood, but he's had a child-safe doorknob cover on the inside of his door since he figured out how to stand up and turn it. I would just do the regular bedtime routine, tuck her in, close the door, and leave. Wear headphones to block the screaming if you need to. When she falls asleep eventually, you can move her inert form back to her mattress if she'll sleep through that or just stick her favorite stuffed animals around her on the floor and toss a blanket on. She'll figure it out eventually if you're consistent about the fact that she is going to sleep somewhere in her room and nowhere else.

I do have friends who have had great luck with the crib tent (their 11 month-old was climbing out, so toddler bed was not yet a realistic option). I had a tent as a kid, and I loved that thing--I want one for my son's toddler bed when he gets there to help keep him snuggly warm in the winter and to head off the inevitable falling out. I don't think they're necessarily cruel--think of them as being just like a seatbelt for the crib.

I have nothing against TV (in moderation) but there are several studies that show a child has a poor quality of sleep when one is in their room. So, I vote take the tv out (as also that can become a lifetime habit of falling asleep to it) and get a crib tent II. They are super safe and my dd actually slept so much better in her big "cocoon". Truly, they couldn't be more safe...I HIGHLY recommend getting one!
:)

I'm not anti-TV, but a number of studies have shown that TV before bedtime makes it much more difficult for kids to sleep. If you are the reading type, I'd suggest you get a copy of Ferber's _Solving Your Child's Sleep Problems_. It has great advice about transitioning to a bed. Basically, putting the mattress on the floor, having a set-in-stone bedtime routine, and a gate at the door is the best you can do-- but you CAN NOT give in. If you've been taking her to your bed it will take some time to undo that bad habit, but better now than later. Let her stand a the gate and cry. She'll eventually fall asleep- even if it is on the floor by the gate. She's pretty young for a sticker chart, but if she's in her bed when you go in in the morning then she gets something good immediately (like a story, etc.)

Ditch the TV-- it is making your problem worse, and setting up horrible sleep habits for later.