Sleep Troubles (LONG) and a Clicky Poll: Where does your toddler sleep?

AutumnBride929 · July 2011

We have been having a TIME trying to get DS to sleep lately. It seems the only way he will go to sleep is just laying on the couch with one of us while we are watching our shows. He does NOT want to be in his room, regardless whether or not one of us is in there with him. Only on a rare occasion will he get in his crib and go to sleep (and by then it is long past his bedtime). Anyway, we are just racking our brains trying to figure out what to do next. The reason we can't just put him in his crib and leave him is because he climbs up and straddles the rail, then gets stuck there so he cries and cries for help. So I finally converted his crib to a toddler bed last night (which is just his crib without the side on) but we couldn't try it out because both DH and DS ended up falling asleep on the couch while I was nursing DD and watching The Bachelorette, lol. But when DS woke up at 3:00, DH tried putting him in his bed but he was pissed. He wanted nothing to do with it. So, out of desperation for sleep (understandably so at 3:00am), DH just went ahead and brought DS back out to the couch where he happily went back to sleep.

Normally, DH doesn't fall asleep on the couch with him and just moves DS to his crib before he goes to bed and then DS will wake up later and one of us will go get him (because he's either stuck on his crib rail or about to be if we don't get in there quick enough). Sometimes I try rocking him but that seldom works and he wakes right up if I try to lay him in his crib so I usually just lay on the couch with him and he goes right to sleep. I don't even necessarily have to be with him on the couch, he will just curl right up and go to sleep. What am I supposed to do? Buy a loveseat to put in his room? lol Joking... but this is so strange. He used to go to bed with no problems and be a great sleeper.

What I really just want to know (because we are trying to figure out how DS will like to sleep) is... where does your toddler sleep? I don't know if he just doesn't like his crib or anything that resembles it (i.e. his toddler bed) anymore and I should try something else or what.

[Poll]

Sorry for the length of this post but one more thing... do you use a white noise machine, fan, music or anything?

And DH also suggested getting new sheets for him so it's new and different like a "big boy" bed. This has just gone on for too long, lol!

stgn01 · July 2011

This isn't going to help, but DD is still in her crib. Now she's not as old as your LO so I don't know if that makes a difference. She also really likes her crib and doesn't try to climb out (yet). She usually hangs in there and plays/talks/sings until DH or I get her.

It sounds like there is a sleep association for him and the couch and you would like it to be for him and his bed. It might take a little work to get there, but it will happen. I say change to a big boy bed, make it fun, and then get a gate for his room so he can't leave. It might take a few nights, but it might work. GL!!

superaunt · July 2011

she sleeps in her crib. we follow the same routine we've been following since she was a couple weeks old: bath, pjs, milk, story, song, lights out, Seahorse on, sound machine on. we also make sure she's in bed at the same time every night (with exceptions like holidays, etc).

GingerCupcake · July 2011

DD sleeps in her twin bed with bed railing. We do not use a white noise machine, but she has a ceiling fan which makes a little bit of noise. She did go through a little stage where she had trouble napping in her bed and wanted me to sleep with her, I did lay down with her just until she fell asleep, then I got smart and thought maybe the room wasn't dark enough. Blackout curtains did the trick and we're back to napping in her twin bed without complaint!

mlf625 · July 2011

Crib, crib tent, video monitor, CIO. That's what I'd be doing.

mrsolsen2000 · July 2011

DD is still in her crib. We have had a lot of sleep issues. The biggest thing is consistency. Your DS's routine is to fall asleep on the couch. That needs to stop. It will be hard but you can do it. I am confused about the getting stuck in the railing of the crib. Can you try breathable bumpers? We used those until DD started using them to hoist herself over the side lol so not sure if they would work for you.

DD is seeing a behavioral specialist for her sleep issue and guess what? She as no issues, DH and I do. We are not consistent enough. I cave and go in whenever she cries, I am too much of a softie. Now DD has STTN for the first time ever because she knows now her crib is for sleeping and mama isn't going to fool around anymore lol!

Start a new routine, bath, book, bed whatever works and stick to it. Do not deviate from it. Put your DS to bed in his bed or crib awake, it may take awhile but it will work eventually. Good luck!

white318 · July 2011

In his crib... always has since a few weeks old. He does like to nap with his daddy in our bed sometimes... but always in his crib at night.

cchill01 · July 2011

Crib or a PNP....and I have made it a point to NEVER, EVER let her fall asleep anywhere else. I don't want her getting the idea that the couch, Mommy's bed, etc, etc is an appropriate place to sleep.

shoeboxx · July 2011

LO is still in his crib. Do you all play in his room at all? Maybe I missed this, but has he ever slept in his crib?

epopp85 · July 2011

mlf625:
Crib, crib tent, video monitor, CIO. That's what I'd be doing.

This exactly. If it were me, I'd go back to the crib for a while, but if you want to keep the toddler bed, I would recommend getting new bedding to make it exciting and a baby gate. CIO may seem harsh, but if you keep caving (and believe me, I understand at 3am) he'll never take it seriously because if he persists, then he gets what he wants.

Topi-Jan · July 2011

I voted Regular Bed, but he's in a full size, not a twin. When he started climbing out of the crib, we did what you did, took the front of and converted it. He was not having it at all, even when we went back to staying in his room until he fell asleep (which we hadn't done in months). He began roaming around in the middle of the night instead and then got into the habit of going into the guest room and sleeping in the middle of the queen size bed. He would get a pillow and move the covers around so he could snuggle up underneath them.

Sooo, we got the full size bed, which we were debating anyway and put a gate on his door. We stuck around the first few nights until he fell asleep until he got used to the gate being up in the middle of the night. Eventually we would just say goodnight and tuck him in, leave and close the gate. He still walks around and reads in his room sometimes until he is fully ready to sleep, but it's working out so much better.

AutumnBride929 · July 2011

mrsolsen2000:

DD is still in her crib. We have had a lot of sleep issues. The biggest thing is consistency. Your DS's routine is to fall asleep on the couch. That needs to stop. It will be hard but you can do it. I am confused about the getting stuck in the railing of the crib. Can you try breathable bumpers? We used those until DD started using them to hoist herself over the side lol so not sure if they would work for you.

DD is seeing a behavioral specialist for her sleep issue and guess what? She as no issues, DH and I do. We are not consistent enough. I cave and go in whenever she cries, I am too much of a softie. Now DD has STTN for the first time ever because she knows now her crib is for sleeping and mama isn't going to fool around anymore lol!

Start a new routine, bath, book, bed whatever works and stick to it. Do not deviate from it. Put your DS to bed in his bed or crib awake, it may take awhile but it will work eventually. Good luck!

What I mean by him getting stuck on the rail is he climbs up onto the top as if he were going to climb out... but instead of falling out of his crib, he ends up just stuck halfway straddling the crib rail. Basically, he wants to climb out but then gets scared and cries for help because he doesn't know what to do, lol.

And I am not at all denying the fact that it's our fault. I know it is. We used to have a great bedtime routine and then DD was born. Now I am stuck nursing her because she cluster feeds at night when it should be his bedtime so it's very hard to get away from her after dinnertime and I must rely on DH to get DS to bed. Doesn't work great, as you can see, lol.

Thanks for your advice; things are going to change tonight.

AutumnBride929 · July 2011

shoeboxx:
LO is still in his crib. Do you all play in his room at all? Maybe I missed this, but has he ever slept in his crib?

Yes, he has slept in his crib since 4-5 months. And DH wants me to transition DD out of our bed now, too! I need to work on one kid at a time, lol. And we don't usually play in his room. Most of his toys are in the living room. I guess there's a connection there, huh? Maybe I should move them... although he will just carry them out.

AutumnBride929 · July 2011

Topi-Jan:

I voted Regular Bed, but he's in a full size, not a twin. When he started climbing out of the crib, we did what you did, took the front of and converted it. He was not having it at all, even when we went back to staying in his room until he fell asleep (which we hadn't done in months). He began roaming around in the middle of the night instead and then got into the habit of going into the guest room and sleeping in the middle of the queen size bed. He would get a pillow and move the covers around so he could snuggle up underneath them.

Sooo, we got the full size bed, which we were debating anyway and put a gate on his door. We stuck around the first few nights until he fell asleep until he got used to the gate being up in the middle of the night. Eventually we would just say goodnight and tuck him in, leave and close the gate. He still walks around and reads in his room sometimes until he is fully ready to sleep, but it's working out so much better.

Thanks for sharing your experience. The back side of DS' crib actually converts to a full-size headboard so that is also an option. Although we may just go with a twin and give DD the crib since they would both fit in the bedroom (we use the other bedroom as an office/guest room). And DS also heads toward the guest room saying "night night" sometimes like he wants to sleep in there... but we just use an air mattress in there, lol. It was still out after my mom left after I had DD. That's where I got the option of just moving his mattress to the floor, lol. But I don't know... I will keep trying his converted crib and get some new bedding for now. I guess this is just going to be a trial and error thing! Frustrating... oh, and I recently repainted his room and changed his curtains. I bet that change messed him up a little, too.

only1erin · July 2011

i'm not much help b/c my ds still sleeps in his crib. we do follow the same routine every night...dinner, playing, bath, bed. we do also play a symphony CD while he sleeps...and now that it's summer his ceiling fan also runs at night and during his nap.

FrickandFrack · July 2011

Luckily DS still sleeps in his crib but we have a routine which is bath, brush teeth, lights out, fan on, rock for a few minutes, lay down in bed and I cover him with his favorite blanket. He also goes to bed at pretty much the same time each night.

Mrs.Syntax · July 2011

mlf625:
Crib, crib tent, video monitor, CIO. That's what I'd be doing.

This x100.

robynlesley · July 2011

My son (almost 23 months) sleeps in his crib--and he's tall and hasn't tried to climb out. I'm keeping him there until he tries to climb out or is too big for it.

His routine at nap time is: lunch, play for 15 minutes or so, nap. I just put him in his crib and say "Have a nice nap" and put on his sound machine (usually heartbeat one, he got used to it) and his seahorse and he will put himself to sleep. Usually within 20 minutes--he may play a bit or fuss sometimes.

Night routine is: Bath (every other night), Brush (teeth), Book (if he'll let us), and Bed (in his crib). Again with the Sleep Sheep and FP Seahorse. He'll fall asleep within 5-20 minutes. He seldom cries. If he does, I'll check him (since it's rare) and offer comfort. But I won't take him out and I don't linger.

Dreamsicle23 · July 2011

mlf625:
Crib, crib tent, video monitor, CIO. That's what I'd be doing.

THIS!

ihearthud · July 2011

It sounds like you aren't looking for ways to keep him in the crib, but if you were... would it help to put him in a sleep sac? There are some out there that go up pretty big in sizes (like 30 lbs). That way he would have a hard time even getting his leg up there to climb out.

mrsfirefly · July 2011

I think he is old enough to do a CIO with the toddler bed. I'm sure he knows by now what the word "sleep" means. I nursed DD to sleep until just a few weeks ago. The first 4 or 5 days of CIO were miserable and then she all the sudden got it! She still cries for a minute or two almost every time I put her down for her nap or for bed, but I think that's just who she is, a sleep fighter. If you don't yet have a bedtime routine, then I might establish one over two weeks and then start doing the routine in his room instead of on the couch. That will help communicate to him that it's time for sleep when you move him to his room.

mojito14 · July 2011

Preston was in his crib until he was 2.5.

Harrison is still in his crib too.

I like the crib. It keeps them contained until they are for sure developmentally mature enough to understand why and that they need to stay in their bed when it's nap or bedtime.

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Sleep Troubles (LONG) and a Clicky Poll: Where does your toddler sleep?

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