Advice - toddler getting out of bed at night

[OceanPrincess]

lol op DD kisses sheepie (as she calls him) every night before sleep

Lol we now have a routine of bedtime kisses - I say "kiss for DD", give her a kiss. Then DD says "Mummy kiss Miffy" so Miffy gets a kiss. "Kiss my fingers" so her fingers get a kiss. "Kiss Miffy's fingers" (Miffy doesn't have fingers ) so I kiss Miffy's fingers. "Kiss Miffy's tail"

You get the idea...

[Artechim]

Thanks for the post OP. Unfortunately I don't think it would work for us, DD just isn't up there with the comprehension for that sort of thing. She simply wouldn't understand any of it.

[~*Niadalla*~]

With both of my kids, it was baby gates all the way.
If they NEEDED us, they would call out. Otherwise, they'd stay in bed because what was the point getting up and not being able to leave the room?
Worked a treat both times and DD was in her bed 2 months with a baby gate on the door before we took it away and haven't had any problems since.

[Olive]

Artechim maybe try the clock with your DD worth a try

[Artechim]

I really don't think she would understand the clock thing either. She isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

[OceanPrincess]

She's not quite 2 yet?

Maybe baby gates are the way to go. Have you tried that?

ETA: Arte you must be exhausted

[Taurean]

maybe stay away from Go the F to sleep??

Are you kidding? That's great advice! We'll read that to her before bed each night! Why didn't I think of that?

OP - that is some awesome advice. DD is a smart little cookie and I think she may just get it. We do talk a bit about bed time and sleeping through and she was most excited to show off her 'big girl bed' to nanna and poppy when she first started sleeping in it so I know she's aware of a lot more than I give her credit for. And this morning when I was close to losing it and she was going mental behind her door, I just opened it and said 'that's enough screaming, it's time for sleep. Back in your bed' and sure enough she shut up immediatelly and waddled (in her sleeping bag, lol) back into bed and went quiet. The issue is with me leaving the room Oh, and her continually getting back up. I think *most* of the time she is pushing the boundaries so I will give your advice a go tonight.

Olive - I'm off to get one of those clocks today! Thanks for the idea! We have the GroEgg and I love it and had looked at the clock but thought DD might be a bit young but from what you and OP have said, I reckon it could be a winner

Kaz - hon, I've been following your story (but not posting, mainly because I don't know what to say ) and you are amazing To come in here and give me advice, well, I'm truly touched hon. I could see why you'd be having a few sleep issues with you DS now more than ever and you seem to be handling it beautifully. I love your advice too and will be taking bits and pieces from each post and giving things a go. I reckon you're right about sleep school too, we've already been twice (when DD was young) and she 'won' twice. Yup, both times we got sent home early because they couldn't 'fix' her. It's pretty funny thinking back on it now I have one very determined young lady on my hands. DD has a good selection of 'friends' in her bed but she's not overly attached to any of them although I keep pushing them onto her! I was hoping she'd be settled by one in particular but the only thing she seems to really need is her musical seahorse (it's belly lights up too) and her dummies. Oh, and me

Niadalla - I'm going to sound so stupid here but we have a gate on her door but we aren't using it. I bought one of those fancy mesh ones that retracts back into the bracket so you can have a fully opened doorway if required. Well it makes so much noise when you use it that we had to leave it closed the whole time she was in bed which meant I had to climb over it and at 160cm (and preggers), I'm only just clearing it. Maybe I should keep a step ladder handy I think I might start using it again though and see if it helps and if it does, then we'll install a normal gate so I don't have to continue hurdling it.

Arte - Big hugs, I'm feeling your pain. Maybe give some of these tricks a go. Miss A may just surprise you. Miss I has blown us away with some of the things she understands that we didn't think she would. It's gotta be worth a shot.

MNB - hats off to you lovely. This issue times 1 is bad enough, how the hell are you surviving?! I hope you've got some good ideas from this thread too.

Cranky Kitten - cheers hon. I reckon my DD really needs a bit of tough love too so the no-nonsense approach sounds like a good plan to me.

Watch this space girls. Hopefully I'll have some good news in the weeks (months? Gawd I hope it doesn't take that long!) to come

[~Kaz~]

Yup, both times we got sent home early because they couldn't 'fix' her. It's pretty funny thinking back on it now I have one very determined young lady on my hands. DD has a good selection of 'friends' in her bed but she's not overly attached to any of them although I keep pushing them onto her! I was hoping she'd be settled by one in particular but the only thing she seems to really need is her musical seahorse (it's belly lights up too) and her dummies. Oh, and me

I'm sorry mate but being sent home early from sleep school twice is gold!! I'd be quite proud of that in a weird kind of way! Her determination will be a positive trait as an adult.

With the 'friend' thing, DS has only just started doing it. As in the last 3 weeks or so. He was given a puppy dog by a mate of mine and it was love at first sight He had a couple of 'friends' before that from when he was 6 months old because we were trying (futilely it seems now that I look back on his infancy) to create sleep associations. But now he has a major attachment to 'puppy dog' (they eat, sleep, play and do everything together, we even brush puppy dogs teeth before his I think it could be an age/developmental thing. And your DD is about 5 months younger than DS so a crazy attachment object could be just around the corner