He used to wander around at night playing with all sorts of things. If we heard particularly loud/destructive sounds like thumps and bangs coming from there, we'd stick our head in and hustle him back to bed but otherwise left him to his own devices.
At first, he would end up asleep on the floor (during the warmer weather thankfully). Then he started to put himself back to bed when he was done. Now, he tends to stay in bed. We got there eventually.
ETA: Oh yeah, I should add that he used to escape, so we put a safety gate on, and then he used to open the door and throw things out, sing to us, etc (their bedroom door looks directly onto our one living area), so dh has rigged up a system where he can only open the door a crack, not as fun, so he doesn't do it really. He was furious the first few nights, but got over it soon enough.
With DD for the first few nights we went through the usual routine, book etc and then turned off the light and sat next to the bed, didnt talk to her or anything. She would then simply go to sleep but understood that she had to stay in her bed. After a few nights of this we simply then put her to sleep in her bed, left the room and didnt have any problems.
DS on the other hand has always required someone to sleep next to him, so we laid down with him till he fell asleep and then left the room.
We have never had a prob from day one with DS going into his bed, he's not yet gotten up once when going to bed at night. And when waking during the night (only sometimes) he just sits up in bed & calls out for me...he is 2.5.
We just kept everything as it always was, he's still going to bed so still needs the bath, milk, story etc. We turn the telly off & just chill & then to get him to his room we give him a horse ride on DH back....off he goes.
The one thing I never changed, that often I've heard of people doing (not sure why) but it could have made the difference - and that's the door. We still walk out & shut the door. If need be, I will open it later due to hot weather etc but it was always shut when in a cot, so we shut it now. If he gets up...like in the morning we can hear him. If he was to get up in the middle of the night I would hear & would be able to tell if he was wandering his room in the dark. I think it helps because its dark, the door is shut & he can't see anything so he goes off to sleep. It creates another novelty when they can get in & out of bed & then in & out of the room....just IMO!
subbing!
Want to get Charlotte in a bed when we get home...not looking forward to it! lol
Just a slight tangent? ... She still fits in her cot (length wise) well, can I just take the drop down side off and use it as a toddler bed or do I need to get a special bed?
LS, My mum just used to take the side off the cot for us when we were younger, you don't need a specific toddler bed. also buys you a bit of time before you purchase a proper single bed.
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