Crib to bed transition disaster!

Steph_whalen5@yahoo.com · July 2014

We moved DD1 (2.5) into a twin bed about 6 weeks ago. Since then her sleep has become a miserable mess. She went from napping 2-5p and bedtime 8p-7a, to napping around 45min to an hour between 2-4p and bedtime 9p-6a (usually with wake ups and crawling into our bed). Nap time and bed time takes 30-45 min on a typical day and usually includes lots of crying and escaping, I expected it to be a challenge but it seems to be taking forever to click. I will admit we weren't consistent at first, but have been for the last few weeks and still, it's a mess. We've tried positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and just putting her back a million times, none seem to work. DH was staying in her room until she fell asleep at night, but we've gone to leaving her in the same fashion as nap time. She still ends up in our bed at some point during the night, which we really would rather avoid since it leads to early wake ups thanks to an alarm for DH or I to get up. I'm at a loss of what to do..I'm almost ready to put her back in the crib, I did have DD2 about 6 weeks before transitioning her so I'm sure that didn't help, but I really feel like she should have improved over such a long amount of time. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

DawnLilly · July 2014

Was she climbing out of the crib? I would set it back up and leave the bed. I would try showing her books, pictures, and shows where babies sleep in cribs and big kids sleep in beds. Repeat repeat repeat that mommy and daddy really want her to be a big girl but that if she can't stay in her bed then she'll have to sleep in the crib. It would also help if you have a dog or cat and can point to their bed while they are sleeping and say "See? Buddy sleeps in his bed. Buddy has his special bed. Mommy and daddy have their special bed and you have your own special bed!"

I would not let her crawl into bed with you until this gets sorted out. We all like morning cuddles but I think you need to keep taking her back to her room when does this. Eventually she will know when it is okay and when she needs to stay in her bed.

SusieBW · July 2014

Nicb13 said:

Do you have a way to keep her in her room like a baby gate or door handle covers? We are doing the transition to a twin bed in a couple weeks but lots of people on here have recommended different ways to keep them in their room so they can't get out of bed and come to yours.

This. DD is switching in another week. We close her door at night because she has an air conditioner in her room, but I'm planning to put a baby gate on her door too because she knows how to open her door and I don't want her leaving her room to come to ours or to wander the house in the night.

Steph_whalen5@yahoo.com · July 2014

She had climbed out of the crib a handful of times, but not consistently. It was more needing the crib for the baby. I agree I don't want her in our bed at all but we are so exhausted between two non sleepers that we don't even always notice. I can put the crib back in though since DD2 is still in the RNP in our room. We have three dogs, so I'll try that too

We tried gating the door, but she climbed over it and I feel like if I put two she would probably still try to climb out and possible end up hurt. The door shut doesn't work because it scares her (thus upsetting her more and it taking longer for her to go down) and she can open it even with the baby proof cover on it

Ya Never Know · July 2014

Did you try putting a door knob cover over the door handle, or a baby gate in front of the door so that she can't get out? For DD's safety (and our sanity), we have a baby gate in front of her door. Sometimes she'll open the door and try to chat, but unless she really needs something, we don't answer. When she gets bored, she shuts the door and goes to bed, or she'll play in her room until she gets tired.

Ya Never Know · July 2014

Steph_whalen5@yahoo.com said:

She had climbed out of the crib a handful of times, but not consistently. It was more needing the crib for the baby. I agree I don't want her in our bed at all but we are so exhausted between two non sleepers that we don't even always notice. I can put the crib back in though since DD2 is still in the RNP in our room. We have three dogs, so I'll try that too We tried gating the door, but she climbed over it and I feel like if I put two she would probably still try to climb out and possible end up hurt. The door shut doesn't work because it scares her (thus upsetting her more and it taking longer for her to go down) and she can open it even with the baby proof cover on it

Sorry, didn't see this before I replied. Does the door have to be completely open? Or just a crack? If it's just a crack, maybe you can rig the door with something so that she can't open it all the way? Or see if they make a taller baby gate, I know my daycare provider has some that are too tall for the kids to get over.

Tapthathank · July 2014

Ya Never Know said:

Steph_whalen5@yahoo.com said:

She had climbed out of the crib a handful of times, but not consistently. It was more needing the crib for the baby. I agree I don't want her in our bed at all but we are so exhausted between two non sleepers that we don't even always notice. I can put the crib back in though since DD2 is still in the RNP in our room. We have three dogs, so I'll try that too We tried gating the door, but she climbed over it and I feel like if I put two she would probably still try to climb out and possible end up hurt. The door shut doesn't work because it scares her (thus upsetting her more and it taking longer for her to go down) and she can open it even with the baby proof cover on it

Sorry, didn't see this before I replied. Does the door have to be completely open? Or just a crack? If it's just a crack, maybe you can rig the door with something so that she can't open it all the way? Or see if they make a taller baby gate, I know my daycare provider has some that are too tall for the kids to get over.

I would suggest trying something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Door-Monkey-Childproof-Pinch-Guard/dp/B004ECJWK4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405104035&sr=8-1&keywords=hook+door+latch

or

https://www.amazon.com/CD8440-Zinc-Plated-Hook-Eye/dp/B000KKVKMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405104035&sr=8-2&keywords=hook+door+latch

The latter you can install on the outside so that you can unhook it easier. We actually did this at our last house because we wanted to check on DS when he was a baby but the door made a really loud noise that would wake him up. We also had a cat, so we didn't want to leave the door open so that he could go in and out...possibly jumping in the crib with him!

Anyway, besides my side story - I would give one of those a try. And just be consistent! I definitely wouldn't go back to the crib at this point - it's already been 6 weeks. Keep moving forward. Good luck!

jennyelf · July 2014

Something that helped us was one of those toddler alarm clocks that turns green at the time set (no noises). Telling kiddo he could get out when it turned green (and us following through on it if he wanted out once it turned green) but had to stay in bed when it was yellow seems to be working for him. Even when he's a bit wound up at the end of the night, we can point to the clock and say it's time for bed since it's yellow and he can stare at it until it turns green and then he can get up. He's typically asleep in minutes.

SunAndRain · July 2014

I talked to my pedi at DD"s 2 year appointment about a similar issue and she suggested putting up a baby gate. This has worked wonders. DD is still in the stage of crying and falling asleep on the floor in front of the gate. But it is better than us walking her back to bed 50 times.

I didn't want to spend a fortune and am happy with the one I purchase: Safety 1st Nature Next Bamboo Gate

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