How to get Toddler to sleep in Big Boy bed/room?

I think I'm catching up on posting for not having posted this much in a long while.

Ds#1 is 19months old. We still have him in the crib, but he'll need to move to the big boy bed when we need to put DS #2 in the crib. Ds #2 is 8 weeks old and we plan on getting him into the crib before Feb. I need to do this before Feb because I go back to commuting to the city for work and would rather get DS#1 set up in the big boy bed and DS #2 in the crib by the time I go back to my regular commute.

How do I start training Ds#1 in the big boy bed? Should I put him to sleep with me laying nect to him? SHould I just put him ni bed and walk out of the room? Also, the bed is in his new room...so it's not just a new bed it's a new room. He does call it his room but mostly wants to play in there.

Right now his routine is he watches Go Diego Go from 8-8:30, then at 8:30pm he says Goodnight to DS#1, DH and myseld and both DH and I take him to his room, kiss him good night, put him in his crib, shut the light, close the door and he immediately falls alseep.

Re: How to get Toddler to sleep in Big Boy bed/room?

Bump

Re: How to get Toddler to sleep in Big Boy bed/room?

Can you put the big boy bed up in the room WITH the crib? Let him get used to seeing it in there, let him nap there, let him play on the new big boy bed. Take him shopping for new sheets etc, let him pick some out, get excited about it. Have him sleep in the crib for a few nights next to the bed.

Then after a few days, have him help you take the crib down. He needs to see the crib get taken down and be put away so that he forgets about it. I know, its a PITA, but this will help eliminate the whole "the new baby stole my bed" jealousy/

THen after a few weeks of him sleeping in his bog boy bed, take the crib back out and set it up for the baby.

As for bedtime, I would stick with the usual routine. If you put bedrails up on the new bed, he may not even realize that he can get up out of the bed.

Good luck!

Message edited 12/1/2011 1:21:03 PM.

Re: How to get Toddler to sleep in Big Boy bed/room?

I would just make a big deal about the big boy bed and just put him in there and that's it.

DO NOT LAY DOWN WITH HIM. That is a bad habit you do not want to start.

If he gets out of the bed, then put him back in, rub his back and then walk back out.. each and every time after that, say nothing and just keep putting him back in there..

I would also suggest a gate at the door too.. I remember when I moved my DS into his (although I did this before DC#2 came), I would find him IN THE CRIB with DD and that freaked me out! lol

GL!

Re: How to get Toddler to sleep in Big Boy bed/room?

Thank you