Moving to a Big Boy Bed

Hi L.,
Have you tried asking your son what he is afraid of with his big boy bed? Does he have any cousins that sleep in a big boy bed, or big girl bed that he might look up to? Has he played a game where someone scares him from underneath a bed and grabs at him? If you force the issue, you might be forcing the fear in him to come out. Remind him that Mommy and Daddy sleep in a big bed, and if he has a Super Hero, like Krypto the Super Dog, or something like that, remind him that they too sleep in their own big boy bed. During the day, play in his room with him, and on the bed. You can play tickle with him and make him laugh, and hopefully that will help him ease into his big boy bed because the laughter will help calm him and help him be more comfortable on his bed. You can try coloring with him on that bed etc. as well. He might have a fear that someone, or something will get him if he's in a bed without the big rails around him. You can try making a homemade canope that drapes down and see if that will work. Bless his heart. It's such a scary world for children sometimes and we feel helpless not knowing how to get them to overcome those fears. I hope I've helped in some way. I wish I knew what to tell you exactly, and have some miracle at hand for you. If you do find something that works, let us know here on mamasource ok? :-) Best wishes,G.

Hi, L. ~

I can only imagine this must be a tough situation for all three of you. I'm not going to tell you that I know how it is, because my family has always been more of the "fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants" type, and my three kids have always been generally okay with things changing. I consider that a very good thing for them. They'll certainly be more adaptable than I am. (I was raised in a highly predictable environment.) Cade might just need to be introduced to change, little by little. I'd start by switching around a single activity in his day, maybe serve something (fun) that he doesn't expect for lunch. There's a lot to be said for systematic desensitization. It made a very different person out of me. And I think your son is probably young enough that it won't be too traumatic for him if you go slowly enough. Perhaps after a while of not having everything perfectly in its place, he'll be more open to some different sleeping arrangements. :)

Hope this helps a bit, L.. All the best to you and your family, and congratulations on your new addition!

~ R.

They have these fun like frames for twin beds. Like Thomas the Engine. It goes around the bed, he might think it is like a train.

Good Luck
C.

im sure you have most likely solved this problem by now but if not it always helps to do his room in things he likes... for example, my son loves cars so we got him cars sheets & blankets for his bed. that way its something he can get excited about.

Have you tried putting the mattress on the floor? Or having you or your spouse read with him and lie next to him for awhile at night until he falls asleep? This is all that seems to work for our almost three year old son right now unless he falls asleep on his own somewhere else.
We just had a new baby in April as well but our son was sleeping in our bed before that so we had to transition him out of our bed to his big boy bed a month before the baby came...