Trying to Get My 2 1/2 Year Old to Sleep at Night

Are you still trying to put him in the toddler bed? I would suggest to put him back in the crib and either get another crib (I know it may not make sense monetarily) or use a bassinet or pack and play for the new baby for a while and maybe trying to talk to him after the baby is born about babies needing the extra railings and security so they don't fall out and how big boys sleep in big beds like their siblings and parents and get him to like the idea of sleeping in a big bed over the course of a few weeks and suggest he try it out even if just for naps. I think things are changing in his world rapidly and he may be trying to control what he can. If he thinks that this is his idea and he get to make this choice of moving up he may not resist as much.

We didn't deal with your situation, but I'll tell you what we have done with our son. We moved him out of his crib at the age of two since his sister would need it soon. Rather than getting a toddler bed, we simply put a twin size mattress on the floor in his room. At bedtime one of us lays with him until he falls asleep (I always fall asleep with him if it is me). It is easy to sneak out of the room once his limbs have started twitching.

Personally I am not the kind of mother to lock my children in their rooms or make them sleep in their vomit. It sounds like he needs more sensitivity and touch from you at night, and not less.

i also suggest putting him back in his crib and having the baby sleep in a bassinett or pack 'n play. My daughter is 8 months adn still sleeps in one, our 2.5 year is still in his crib and loves it

Both my kids did not sleep from the start either. My son (8) still has a hard time going to sleep at night, but once he finally falls asleep he is out. My daughter (5) goes to sleep in less than 5 minutes, but is up 3-5 times every night. They both have lights out at 8-8:30pm and are up between 5:30 and 6am. I had two peds tell me (when I was complaining that my baby did not sleep) that babies that do not sleep much are usually gifted. I thought they were saying that to make me feel better. Both my kids are in the gifted program at their school. For my son, who has a hard time going to sleep, at 2 1/2 we read 5-8 books to him and then laid in the bed with him until he fell alseep. Usually I fell asleep first, and my husband would come in and wake me up to go to my bed. I know that sounds bad, but mentally he cannot shut down easily. The key for him is to be physically AND mentally drained by the end of the day. He needs exercise for his body and brain everyday to be able to fall asleep before 10pm. Limit the TV, buy workbooks at the bookstore that will challenge him, as much fresh air as possible, pre-school (emphasis on school) if possible, etc. My kids went to a preschool where they learned not just colors and numbers, but to write complete sentences, read at a 2nd gr level by the time they went to K, etc. It may seem like you are pushing them, but their brains need that "exercise", otherwise it is hard for them to shut the brain down at night. Good luck!

Oh no! I am so sorry. Maybe you should try putting him back in the crib. and buy some rubber sheets for the puking:)

I have a friend with a little guy who was a "voluntary puker", very similar to yours.
She was in the same predicament.

Eventually, they just let him throw up and stay in it. They locked him in his room (reversed the door handle), and when he threw up, they left him in it all night. They were at their witts end and out of ideas.
It took a night or two of that before he got the message. Now he sleeps through the night in his own bed with no challenge.

It's hard, but you have to see the puking (provided there's no medical problems), as a temper tantrum, and react as you would to that.