Community› The Bump Message Boards› Attachment Parenting
Attachment Parenting
New Discussion

Putting 2.5 yr old to bed

greenhopegreenhope member
in Attachment Parenting
We transitioned DS into a big boy bed about 3 months ago. We had just moved and he was resisting sleep and would scream in his crib. We thought laying with him would help with the transition of the move.

It's usually always a struggle to get him to sleep. More often now it's taking 2 hrs to get him to sleep and he just wants to play.

He shows all his usual signs of wanting bed (snuggling on the couch, rubbing his ears and red eye lids) at about 7 pm. Perhaps he does want to stay up a bit later though?

My main question is how can we get him to sleep on his own in his big boy bed? I believe having DH or myself lay with him is too stimulating and it is exhausting for us.

If it's important to know, he wakes up between 4:30-5:30am. Usually naps 2.5-3 hrs a day. His room is as dark as we can get it.

Thanks

Lilypie Third Birthday tickers Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
Report Reply to Post

Re: Putting 2.5 yr old to bed

  • Pookers7Pookers7
    We made it an event when DD got her "big girl" bed and really talked up how cool it was. Does he have a lovey? DD can sleep anywhere - even the birth center floor when her little sister was born! - as long as her lovey is there. What kind of routine do you have? My DD is very hard to settle and has a lot of energy. We have a looooooong bedtime routine that ends with stories for 30 minutes+. I know some people say you shouldn't do anything but sleep in bed but for us, stories in bed are essential because it gets her to stop moving (dawdling). DH and I go in one at a time. Me first, with books (I tend to be the parent she clings to the most) followed by DH who tells her stories. Often, she falls asleep during this time. It's a gradual decrease in stimulation until she's ready. It also works well as one of us can be with little sister while one of us is with her. That way, she doesn't feel like little sister has stolen any of her special time. Of course, recently she's been popping out of be for hours (probably due to little sister) so DH has been laying with her for a bit. It worked last night, hopefully it works again. 
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"