Getting 2Yr Old to Stay and Sleep in Toddler Bed

We had the same issue with our son. 1. we got him the homedics lullaby projector. I got it on line at target. It has a timer it projects a scene on the ceiling and plays lullaby's. We had issues of him waking and wanting us in his room. So for about 2 weeks he would get up and come in our room and sleep on his cars couch in our room.. Win in our eyes, because he eventually would just get up and come in and lay down and not wake us. He was happy to be near us and we were happy he was not in our bed and we were not sleeping in his room. For the last 3 nights he has stayed in his bed. We have slight issue with him coming out of bed, but we threaten (have done it a few times) to close his door and then he stays in bed. My son will be 2 on Monday.

Until we got him the toddler bed ( we were waiting for his conversion kit, which turned out to be the wrong one so we just got him a cars toddler bed which he loves). We were keeping him in his crib and consequently sleeping in his room in the middle of the night to keep him in his crib.) Then when we got the toddler bed, we put the cars couch on the floor in our room and that worked out great. Now the past 3 nights he has slept all night in his room and was rewarded with lots of praise and happiness. Now, we had him transferred to the next room about two weeks ago and Wednesday was the first day he got to eat breakfast in the new room and since then he has been happy sleeping alone.

His age will depend on how I would ans. So if you could post his age
it would help.

It sounds like he still may need the security of his crib. They make a tent type thing that goes on cribs to keep children from climbing out. You might try that.

Good luck!

it sounds like he wasnt ready to get out of the crib. I'd convert it back.

What worked on our daughter was placing her toddler bed directly next to our bed on my side of course (you know how dad's are they forget the kid is there). Start with toddler bed right next to you and every few days move it an inch or two away. When the bed reaches the wall and the child sleeps next to the wall for either a few days or a week; then we moved the bed to her room placing our picture next to her bed and she stayed there. Of course if she had a bad dream or thunderstorms we didn't mind the occassional return.

Just remember let them have their favorite toy or blanket to hug tight, reassure them that you are always there for them, keep a night time story routine, praise them the next morning for staying in their own bed and the ocassional return is okay. Also, some kids are ready by 2 and others by 3.

Good luck. Its a process but guiding your little one to more independent sleeping is good for everyone.

Hi B.,

This is just a suggestion for a temporary fix so you and your husband, and your child, can get some sleep. He seems so insecure at this point, why not put his toddler bed in your room for awhile? After he gets used to it and feels more secure, you could put it back in his room.

Just a thought.
Good luck to you!
"Grams"
from the Pocono Mts. of PA

We would sit outside the door and out of sight and if we heard our son get out of bed we would go in and put him back in bed. No eye contact, no talking (first time, we would say "it's time for sleep, get in your bed". Nap times were harder than night time. There were times when I counted more almost 100 times of this back and forth BS, but after a few days they learned the rules and stayed in bed. We've also tried to threaten them having to sleep in the "baby bed" (sounds like you've converted your crib, so maybe you could threaten the Pak N Play?).
Good luck. It's really no fun. We've done this twice now (my boys are 3 & 5), and are dreading doing it again with our almost-2-year old daughter.