Toddler with a Sleeping Issue

Hi S.. I would just put the mattress on the floor. That's not a big deal. Believe me, he won't be the first toddler to sleep on a mattress lying on the floor. Lots of families transition that way. My son wouldn't sleep in his "convertible" toddler bed either. We put his mattress on the floor. When he was a little older we put a twin bed in his room and pushed it up against the walls (side of bed against one wall, head of the bed against the perpendicular wall) and used a bed rail on the other side. As far as him waking up, there could be a lot of reasons or issues to address. There really isn't enough information in your original post to help with that.

have you talked to his ped. about this my daughter about that age had night terrors and nothing we did helped. she out grew them about 5yrs old. just an idea you need to bring up to your ped.

I agree with the other Mamas. Put the mattress on the floor (who's it hurting?)first and let that be the night that you train him to sleep through the night. My daughter was in our room until she was 17 months old and would wake up every night to come in our bed. We finally transitioned her into her own room and decided that was it. The first night I broke down and went in there and slept on the air mattress I had on the floor in anticipation of her refusing to conform. The second night was my husband's turn and he let he cry for a few minutes and she went to sleep and has slept through the night ever since. She is still in a crib though, so I am hoping for the same luck when it's todler bed time. Also, he may be waking up to noises in the house. Is it the same time every night? That was one of our problems, so we got this conair spa sounds radio and played the Waterfall sound. At first we started it very low then gradually made it louder. But we did that since she was very small, so he may be bothered by it. Good luck! and congratualtions on the new baby! Hope it all works out!

Well, I can tell you what "the books" say. Toddlers have sleeping issues due to parental mismanagement. The rule is ...put them in bed, shut the door and open it in the morning...maybe even put an exterior lock on it (with the exception of anything major needing attending to [illness etc.]).
A bedtime of between 6-8pm is considered healthy at that age along with one afternoon nap of 1-2 hours. Are you making sure he naps? Keeping a child up later does nothing but cause more problems, you should not put children to bed after 8 and their waketime should be from 6-7am. Is he sleeping in too late?
If you are going to him when he screams in the middle of the night, he has trained you. You may need to train him now. I know it's different with a toddler than an infant, but my son did the same thing. SCREAMING in the middle of the night, it went on for a month. I would go in there, pat his but, put in a pacifier etc. But I just couldn't take it any longer and things needed to change. It took 4 nights of ignoring him, and each night he would scream for shorter and shorter times. First night was an hour! Second 30 mins, 3rd 10 mins, 4th was a waaaaa....and then nothing and he has not done it since.

Have you had him checked for allergies, or hormonal imbalances? Are there animals in the house that irritate his system, diet changes that can be made...
He's 3 and going through major changes, like we all do throughout our lives.
I know it's taxing on you, dear. Do you have relatives/friends to take the load off on occasion?
Don't know where you live; but can send you some names of very good practitioners to help you with you and your family in the Broward/Palm Beach area.
Blessings

Hi S., I understand you completely. I changed my son to his toddler bed when he was almost 2, since I was pregnant w/my second one too. In the beg, he cried, I started little by little left his matterss next to my bed, never in my bed because he would get used to it, unless he was sick or had a nightmare. Which by the way his doctor (and have read it) told me that when they turned i think 2 they have a lot of dreams/nightmares so it will happen, and my son does. But then I took him to buy some things for his bed and he got used to it...and yes it took me a long time my son is very hardheaded....so good luck, don't get too tired w/this situation I know you want to do it all before the next baby comes, but you have to take care of yourself too...btw, since he was just a few months I made him get used to goint to sleep around 7:30-8pm. And he got used to it, and then now he only rarely takes 1 nap, because if not I'll go crazy w/these 2. It's hard but can be done. If I tell you my stories I would never end..ha! take care! god bless you!

Ask your pediatrician for advice. How early does he get up?Does he take naps during the day? If his afternoon nap is too late maybe he's not tired or sleepy enough to sleep all night.
If you put the crib mattress on the floor, will he use it there?