Sleeping in New "Big Girl" Room

Updated on March 03, 2010
T.S. asks from Salem, OR
9 answers

We recently made a big girl room for my daughter who turned 2 on Jan 2nd. She LOVES her new room......it's all "hot pink" as she says =) I have another one due on April 2nd, so we wanted to get her transitioned before baby comes hopefully. Last night was the first time we tried to put her to bed in there......she was SO excited to sleep in the hot pink room. That lasted about 10 minutes!! We went thru the whole night time routine, put her down in the big girl bed and closed the door (open a crack) and she was fine for about 10 minutes and then started crying. So after about 10 min of crying, daddy went in and layed down with her. He was in there about 25-30 min with her, but all she wanted to do was talk about all the new things in her room. So we moved her back to her other room and she went right to sleep. So, I'm asking for suggestions on how to make the transition easier for her? She transitioned fine into a big girl bed at my mom's house when she stays the night......but this is a whole new room, so I think thats what the problem is. I'm not sure if she was just so excited that she didn't want to sleep. Should I try laying her down for naps in the new room? And just keep trying each night to put her down in there?? Any suggestions welcome =) Thanks is advance!!

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M.L.

answers from Seattle on

We started doing naps in the new room first with no decorations in the room. After she was comfortable napping, then we added night sleeping still without any decor. Just painted and with boring blinds. After about a month of that when it was going well, we added decor. She transitioned from each phase seemlessly and didn't seem overwhelmed by all the new at any point.

Also, the more you push it, the more likely she is to push back so let her do it at her pace. :) Good luck!

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

I would not keep moving her back and forth if you really want her to start sleeping in the new room. She needs to know that this is the room she needs to sleep in. If you keep moving her back to the old room, she will learn that if she just holds out long enough each night, she will get to go back to what she is used to.

L.G.

answers from Eugene on

Westerners are far too quick to separate a single child into a room of their own. First children have many fears that second and third children don't have.
I kept my first in the bedroom until she was 2 3/4 then she went willingly to a room of her own. I should have known about children being alone and scared earlier. But then no one told me how many fears small children have about being alone at night.
Many of my friends had family bedrooms for many years. It was not for us.
My second daughter did not want a room of her own even at 3 years of age. But, my two daughters shared a room happily at least for a few years until their personality types really surfaced. A neat freak and a chaotic kid cannot share a space.

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H.G.

answers from Portland on

Yes, keep putting her down in her new room & let her talk about it let the "Newness" ware off. I would put her down early at night to give her time to talk. If you keep putting her back in her old room she will feel like it's her room too & the baby is taking something from her.

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J.K.

answers from Sacramento on

I'd just give her a little time. Maybe try playing in there with her during the day and talk about all the new things in her room so she can see them when it's bright in there... Even though she loves it, like you said, it's a whole new room to her,and when kids are vulnerable to sleep they see all kinds of things. Make sure she has a night light. When you go in to lay down with her, tell her you know that she's excited but now it's time to go to sleep... do whatever comforts her that is nonverbal ( rubbing her back, rubbing her hair, snuggling) and give her quiet shushes when she starts talking. ) Just say you'll hear all about it in the morning. Sometimes kids just need validation.

She'll adjust... be ready for her to regress a little when the baby comes, though... especially if the baby is in her old room and in her old bed.

Good luck!

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E.E.

answers from Portland on

Yes the thing that worked the best with my DD is a twilight turtle....it cost 30 but is priceless. ...it casts stars onto ceiling and brightens room at night but doesn't make any scary shadows like a nightlight can. Also in the middle of the day give her some alone time in her room while it Is sunny out to look at books or play with a new toy so that she can get used to it. If she is getting up because she thinks it is already time to I would highly recommend the tot clock....it turns yellow when time to get up

R.G.

answers from Dallas on

We just did the same thing....my daughter and I spent quite a bit of time playing in her new room before we finally had the curtains up, etc. so she could sleep in there. She was anxious by that time to actually get to sleep in her new bed and her new room so she took right to it as soon as she had the chance. That may have helped. I'd definitely have her napping in there too but put a gate up so she knows she can't just roam the house. Otherwise the freedom seems to get the best of them. Best of luck with the transition and with Baby #2!

C.S.

answers from Medford on

Yes, put her in her big girl room for naps also. Dont go back and forth. You have to stick with the transition, but understand that it will take time. Let her talk about all the new things in her room at bedtime for the first night or two. she is overwelmed with excitement. Maybe try going to bed a little ealier just to talk about everything. If she is scared do something silly like bless her new room. Spray majic fairy dust (spray water), let her know that the "hot pink" fairy has done her job and made the room extra safe and comfortable...Most of all try to be patient (not implying that you aren't just encouraging). I know that a lot of times as a mom, I forget that things might be hard for my kids to adjust too because it makes sense to me...like when we spent WAY too much money to get my daughter her beloved Ladder bed (junior loft) and then she cried for days because she wanted her old bed back...i didnt think about her needing time to adjust. It was a big change...Best of luck to you with your "big" girl! :)

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J.V.

answers from Chicago on

When we did the move, we moved her out of the crib and into a new room/new bed. What we did was move the crib into her new room and put her in that for a few days. She was 18 months at the time. After 1 day of naps, she wanted to sleep in the big bed at nap time. After 3 nights, she was done with the crib completely.

She did play for a long time at nap time (and still does sometimes).

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