Toddler Wants to Sleep on the Floor and Not in Toddler Bed

Let her sleep where she wants and how she wants/feels comfortable. There is something wrong with her being so upset she's vomitting. That is very troubling to hear. Bottom line, let her ease into things at her own pace and let her get a good night's rest. She needs more support from you and a nicer bedtime routine that she dictates, not you. Put her needs and anxieties first and it will all work out. And continue to do so even after the second baby arrives.
Both my kids went from crib to twin/queen beds. They wanted nothing to do with the beautiful toddler bed they had. My 24 month old daughter felt most comfortable in a queen bed, so we went ahead with it and no guardrails. She likes being independent, using her step stool to get up and down. She does wake up once in awhile looking for comfort from me, husband, or even her brother, but both my kids are like that. My son (now 4 1/2), went to a twin bed at 2 1/2 years old.

I had the SAME problem with my 20 month old son almost two years ago. We put him in a toddler bed b/c we needed the crib for my daughter, who I was five months pregnant with at the time. He would only sleep on the floor and I had to lay on the floor with him until he fell asleep. We eventually put the pillows and blankets on the floor too but he rolled around so much they didn't help much. I would sit on the floor and cry thinking about getting up with TWO kids in a few months and did not know how I was going to handle it. Then we bought him a twin bed and put the guard rail on it ... I don't know if it was exciting having this big bed ... but he has had NO problem since. He slept through the night on the first day and has never fought about going to bed.

I never have experienced this problem but do have a couple of ideas to try. First I would try to ask you daughter why she doesn't like her big girl bed. Could be she is too hot or cold. Work with her to resolve whatever issues she presents. Make sure she is a part of the solution.
Next I would explain to her all about the benefits and responsibilities of being a big sister. Like she will need to set an example for her new sibling to follow because they will look up to her for guidance.
Just a couple of thoughts. I would be interested to see if they work though. Good luck to you and congrats on the little one on the way! Shannon G.

J.,

I know I am late responding to your request and I didn't read your other responses but I wanted to share that my son slept under his toddler bed for a while after we put it up. I would put him to bed in his bed and then when I went to check on him later he would be asleep under it. I found that pulling him out and putting him back in his bed would not wake him. I think he did this for about six to eight months and then he stopped. I wouldn't worry too much. I think this is a phase she will probably stop soon. My son also goes through periods where it seems impossible to get him to bed. Usually they only last a couple of weeks and then he is OK. Hang in there.

We had the exact same problem! Until we decided to actually set up our son's 'real' bed. We held back from setting up our spare full size bed because we were deciding what type of bed to get him and after about a month of the same experience as you've been having, we decided just to set it up - though we made a big production of it. First we went and bought sheets and blankets that he would like (Cars). When we got home, we all took about the crib/toddler bed (that was hard for me), then set up the 'new' bed, made it, put all the pillows on, etc. We celebrated by toasting with chocolate milk. I'm not kidding when I say that he stayed in that bed from the first night. Occaisionally he'll be upset, but now we know that's more to do with other things going on, than the bed. Hope that helps! Good luck!

I think as long as she is sleeping through the night, who cares were she sleeps! She is in her own room, if she pefers the floor, let her sleep there. If she is getting a good night sleep, keep her where she is. The struggle to have her sleep else where may not be worth it!
Good luck to you.

I think that this is a result of letting a baby "cry it out". Your daughter has to know that you are there for her 24 hours/day. Once she is confident that you will answer her cries, they will lessen and she won't need you anymore. Crying herself to sleep is very unsettling and she's waking up scared with the same feeling that she had when she fell asleep. I know that every mom has her own way of raising her children, so there is no right or wrong answer. Try reading the book The No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers. This will get her back on track and she'll sleep all night. Good luck with what ever you choose.

My son did this. He slept in his car bed for about 2 to 4 months, and then decided he liked the floor better. At first we put him back in the bed, but then decided to just let him sleep on the floor since he would move there anyways. He did this for about a year. Even now he still does it sometimes. We got rid of the car bed, and put in a twin bed, close to the floor. He doesn't seem to need the side rail anymore.
If you're worried about her being cold, just keep her in warm pj's and cover her up after she falls asleep. By now, she should be able to cover herself up during the night if she is cold.
One thing I would recommend if you think you need it, is placing a flat waterproof crib sheet under where she lays, and a thin sheet/blanket to cover/soften it. If she doesn't like all the "stuff" under her, then either make it special (i.e. favorite character) or really downplay it, floor protector & sheet.
If she continues and you are still worried, ikea has some kind of inflatable square bed for kids. I think it was around $100, but I would probably just let her be. Eventually her tune will change, maybe soon, maybe later. She could be just experimenting and testing. As long as she sleeps normal I wouldn't even stress over it.

We went through this with our daughter last year when we were expecting baby #2. We let her sleep on the floor, we supplied a sleeping bag that she only decided to use half the time. After the baby was born, she realllly stopped using her bed... but we waited her out and every week we tried to get her back into bed, but she still went to the floor. A few months after the baby was born and our lives went to normal, she just started to use her bed again and has been in it almost every night for the last 6 months. I went with the approach that forcing the big girl bed was becoming a control issue and a fight each night and wasn't worth it. There is nothing wrong with sleeping on the floor, it does not hurt a child. It actually has helped us now with traveling with both kids... the baby gets the pack-n-play and our 3 year old sleeps on the floor in her sleeping bag. It is great!

R.

I'm confused...if she sleeps well on the floor, why can't she? It won't hurt her...

B.

It is possible that there is something in the bed that is unhealthy for her. Do you use fabric softeners? The perfumes in detergent and softeners are toxic--I know I cannot sleep on anything with these scented products--I take my own bedding when I visit some relatives because of this. Mattresses often have many chemicals added to them--I use all natural mattresses. It could be a health issue--not a behavioral one. Of course,as one poster said sleeping on the floor is not going to hurt her!

Dear J.,
Do you have carpet in the spot she is sleeping on? Put her in a cozy sleeper (PJ's) and let her sleep there. If you keep giving her so much attention over this it will be worse when the new baby comes. Remind her that her bed is available whenever she wants it but otherwise leave it alone.
This is really a power struggle. Remember who is running your family and it should not be her.

My daughter went through the same phase. She was sleeping in a regular bed at 2 1/2, one night there was a terrible storm, it scarred her, she started out on the capeted bedroom floor and then moved to the hardwood hallway. I used blankets for her bed. She stayed there for about 6 months. When her sister was born, my sister bought her special sheets for her bed, Nemo and told her if she wanted to keep them that she had to sleep in the bed. I moved her bed next to the door and never had a problem since.

You answered your own question. New baby soon! Your daughter has to adjust to the new person also. She will not longer be alone. I suggest that someone get her a big sister gift that is possibly a tent, pads, sleeping bag or bedding for the floor. All of you need to reassure her that she is the baby forever and being big sister is all part of growing up. Tell her the baby is also her baby. Get her involved with the pregancy. Get things set up for special alone time for her with each of you. I think she is handling the stress very normally. My 16 year old put it best when I was pregnant I though I was going to be an only child. I told him so did I. I was told I could not get pregnant any more. Oh well it turned out all right.

Who else can help with your daughter? She just needs everyone to make her feel safe and happy. Talk to her. Does anyone else you know have a new baby. Going to visit new babies for a few hours of feeding and diaper changes might help reassure her.

In 100 years none of this will matter!

I agree with the others if she is sleeping all night leave her be. The thing is I have never understood the thing with the toodler beds is that the child is growing and the bed is the same bed that they have slept on since day one almost.

With my oldest we went and did the toodler bed thing. What a waste of money that was. she did not like it because she is a child that likes to roll around in her sleep. in a toodler bed a child can not move around as much. so we put her in a queen size bed. she loved it.

a child is going to sleep where they feel safe and sound. Power trip I don't think so. It is just the security of the child.

If you are worried that a twin, queen bed sits to high off the floor then just put the box springs and mattress on the floor.

It is not a crime to let a child sleep on the floor. Just make sure that the child is wearing warm PJ's. If it makes you feel better in the middle of the night if you are the one not able to sleep because she is on the floor go and put a blanket on her. (if she has kicked it off)

Enjoy your sleep as much as you can right now. you will have many nights ahead that you will be up and down. right now just get the rest you and the baby needs.

Your daughter will move up to a "big girl bed" when she feels like it is a safe area for her.

I've heard that you can put the mattress on the floor for her to sleep in until she's ready to be in the bed. I think as long as she's sleeping in the room, you're on the right track. Good luck!

Hi J.:

After my second son was born, our oldest son who was about to turn 2 and even a few months after her second birthday, took to getting out of bed and sleeping on the floor either in our bedroom or in the hallway. He didn't cry or scream when we put him to bed nor would he wake us up when getting out of bed and coming to sleep on the floor. I was curious as to whether you were expecting or had just had a baby when I started reading your note. And as I suspected you are expecting. This may have something to do with why your daughter has taken to sleeping on the floor. I thought that maybe we may have switched him out of his crib too early. We wanted to get him used to a regular bed since his baby brother was going to need the crib. I doubt very seriously that she is being defiant. I think perhaps she is just responding to the fact that there is another baby on the way. My son eventually stopped doing this when he began sharing his room with his little brother.

Give her some time and see how she behaves after her sibling has arrived and she has time to engage with the baby.

I agree with the previous poster. Leave her be. My dd has done that a time or two. She wanted to sleep on top of her toy box for a nap once, I just gave her a kiss and let her be. She hasn't wanted to sleep there again, must not have been that comfy LOL. The more you try to get her in her bed, the more she may fight you and the longer she'll keep wanting to sleep there. I don't see any problems with letting my kids sleep on the floor if they want too, so that would be a battle I would not fight. I really try to only fight battles that involve safety, not worth stressing over, kwim? Just leave the pillow and blankets somewhere that she can get them if she gets cold. Maybe suggest every once in a while that the bed may be a little more comfy. She'll figure it out.