Comments on: Laugh with Me. And then Help.

By: Michelle M.

Michelle M. — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:55:06 +0000

This is my first visit to your blog, but I thought I’d share what we did with my son. We transitioned him at about the same time. At night, we would read books in bed with him (we stopped doing that once he was a little bit older). We also left on a light in the room- a little frog lamp. For naptime, I just kept going back in and putting him in his bed until he learned that he had to stay there. It took a while, though. Oh, and we always kept a baby gate in his bedroom doorway- just in case he escaped :)

By: Angel

Angel — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:33:28 +0000

When my son was a little older than that he started climbing out of his crib and when we tried switching his crib into a toddler bed he took advantage of his new freedom by roaming the house at night and refusing to fall asleep till he was so tired that he passed out. We tried everything and still the same thing, he’d wake up before us and get into something if he slept in his bed. Frustrated I went and bought a crib tent and put his bed back into a crib, what a life saver! 6 months later he was ready for the toddler bed after he matured a little.

By: MaryBeth

MaryBeth — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:54:27 +0000

Just wanted to say that I’m right there with you… my trio is just over 2 years old and we’ve recently made the switch because one of the three was climbing out of her crib. Bedtime has become pure bedlam around here. I finally removed everything from their room except the beds, blankets, and one or two lovies each. Now that they have less to play with and destroy they are going to sleep faster, but tonight was the first night that I’d say it has gone smoothly and it’s been just over a week. So, all that to say you might try removing everything from her room… at least she won’t still have someone in there keeping her awake like my guys have!?!

By: Jendi

Jendi — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:59:29 +0000

All of my children went to a bed at 18 months.
I did similar to commenter number 6.
My son took the longest. With him I started by sitting beside the bed and holding his hand. Then I moved my chair to the middle of the room, next the door way, finally out of sight.
We had a set bedtime routine that rarely wavered, and we played very soft lullabies.

My sister’s son climbs in and out of his crib all the time. No injuries yet.

Take care and good luck!

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:16:56 +0000

It isn’t any fun but you could try what I did with my two boys (more then a decade ago.) I put them in their bed and then sat in a chair in the doorway so I could constantly remind them to get back into bed. I did it for 5 nights with the oldest and 3 nights with the youngest before they got it and stopped getting up. Good luck!

By: Cyndi

Cyndi — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:52:42 +0000

I am SO sorry that you are having all this trouble! It really sounds like she isn’t ready. Her crib is her safe place and until she is ready to give it up or until you HAVE to have the crib, I wouldn’t push it. If she starts climbing out, then revisit it. Chances are that if she climbs out, she will do it carefully and not fall or fall one time and not try it again for a while. Try it again in 6 months. Good luck!!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:16:04 +0000

I am no help but I kind of feel your pain… Trevor (at 5 months) is totally convinced that he does not need to nap nor does he need to sleep more then 8 hours. Not only that, but he refuses to sleep anywhere but in our bed… it is not amusing and it is getting on my last nerve!!! I hope you can figure something out that works for all of you!!

By: Dusty

Dusty — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:16:24 +0000

I’m not a lot of help either, really. My daughter is 2 1/2 and still in her crib. We tried the switch and we had similar issues a few months back, so I just summed it up to her not being ready. I have heard from other mommy friends of mine that eventually they will get it and stay in bed. I would suggest letting her pick which she sleeps in for awhile then maybe wean her from the pack n play. Warn her ahead of time that there will only be “X” amount of days until she’ll have to sleep only in her big girl bed? Also, you could let her pick out her blankets and such for her bed, so she feels like it is more “hers”? I did that with Gabby and she loved it.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:53:46 +0000

Another comment that will not be of any help, but maybe some encouragment that you are not alone…
My son never would sleep in his CRIB! We have been co-sleeping, which really takes the fun out of being a newly wed, and I suspect this will continue until he just decides one day to sleep alone. I know many people may tell you to try the cry-it-out method, but I could not stand listening to my little stubborn child scream for hours on end.
Good luck, and I will be reading all the comments for any suggestions myself.

By: anne

anne — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:01:57 +0000

Mwhahahahaha Savannah sounds so much like Madeline it’s hilarious. Except Madeline would have everything, including her clothes and diaper in the crib.

Claire went back and forth from toddler bed to crib until she was about 26 months old. One day she just decided she wanted to sleep in the big bed — which was her twin, not even her toddler bed. We just let her move back and forth and didn’t push it. So, I’m not really a whole lot of help. :)