How to keep a toddler in bed?

Maebb

We have a 20 month old and one due in January, so they'll be about 25 months apart.

DH is adamant that we don't need two cribs. DS is in a crib now, and he pretty much puts up a fight every time we put him to bed. He will shout, "Out! Out! Mommy! Daddy!" Then after a minute or two once he realizes we're not going to come get him, he sits down in his crib, looks at a book, and goes to sleep.

DH thinks we can transition him to a full size bed (on the floor), but I have no idea how we can keep him in. Whenever I say, "DS, are you tired? Are you ready for bed?" he says, "No!" So I can't imagine him staying in a bed unless he physically is unable to get out of it. He hasn't tried climbing out of his crib yet, but I know that might happen.

DH suggested basically emptying DS' room of all toys and things that could hurt him (fans that he could pull down on himself, etc.) and that he would just go to bed when he's ready. Has anyone tried this with a kid who strongly resists sleeping? Any tricks to get him to stay in bed? I thought about a bed tent or something, but that probably isn't safe, right? Or should I just push the two cribs issue? Thanks!

RondackHiker

Spooko said:

Duct tape?

I was coming to see if anyone made this suggestion.

I have no advice. DS just switched super easy. I was lucky.

LBib

We removed almost all the toys, bought a video monitor, and left him to his own devices to fall asleep. Now at 3.5 we're contemplating adding some toys back in so that he'll be less destructive during quiet/nap time.

acaudill75

We put DDs into the same room with each other. Both of them were really good about going to sleep until we switched them. Now, they play with each other and make lots of noise and goad each other into asking for dumb things from us. We just keep telling them to go back to bed. After two or three bullshit requests, they make it back into bed and go to sleep. Just be firm no matter what.