Ask:
Okay, I am not having the best week. I have some serious PMS, and I should really be left alone in a cave all by myself this week.........well today my 2 yr old has figured out how to get out of her crib. So, I think maybe it is time for her big girl bed. We have a full size bed in the nursery too. So, I put her in that for her nap today..which I DESPERATELY NEED HER TO TAKE RIGHT NOW! She keeps climbing out. I put her back in the crib, she won't stay there either. DH won't be home from work for a couple more hours.
What do you do with a toddler who won't stay in bed??????????
Answer:
When we switched dd to a big girl bed, we put up a gate at her doorway. I found that if I let her explore her new found freedom, she would eventually tucker out and go to sleep. Having said that, she often wound up napping on the floor. She stayed in her bed better at night. If she did fall asleep on the floor, then we would just move her to her bed.
You need to not put her back in her crib. It is more dangerous for her to climb out of her crib, than to roll out of a bed that is low to the floor.
Answer:
I stayed in bed w/my son at that age, read to him, then stayed there while he dozed off. He never dreaded sleep. I made it a rule that if he got back up, except for potty, I wouldn't lay down w/him next time. I only had to follow through once.
Answer:
Thank you for your responses! I will have to put the gate up. In a bind yesterday I put a pack & play crib in front of the door to her room. Well, she climbed into the crib, then out the other side. Guess her gymnastics class is paying off for her!!