big kid bed for the first time

DD is FINALLY asleep in her big girl bed in her new room. It took me THREE hours!!! Every time I would put her in bed and walk out, she would be up and out the door before I got to my room down the hall. We went through that for about an hour and a half. DH started on a bottle of wine at that point! I tried everything... rubbed her back like she asked, sat with her, left her in there crying, walked her back in every single time she got out, then finally gave her one last warning and put her back in her crib. She did NOT like that at all and begged to go into her big girl bed. After I put her in the bed, she only got out one more time. She finally fell asleep at 10:40 pm. I can't believe she didn't collapse of exhaustion two hours ago! DH did! I feel like this is a huge victory and a major step for her. I hope it gets easier each night! DD #2 is due in one month and we need the crib for the baby. BTW, DD is 2 1/2 and sleeps on a cot every day at school (& never gets up!).

Anyone else going through this with their stubborn toddler?

Re: big kid bed for the first time

We're not going through this yet, though I expect it soon & I expect it will be an issue leaving the room before she is sleeping!

Re: big kid bed for the first time

I did with my son when we moved him to his new room, and new bed in prep for #2. At first, for like a week, he would sit in the bed and wait for us to get him out - he loved it and we had no problem. Once he figured out that he could get out, all hell broke loose! We ended up putting a gate in his door frame so he could open his door, but not get out of his room. He eventually learned that once in bed, that was it, if he got out, he couldn't leave the room.