spin-off to Sunny's thread- update

How do you get a four year old to go to sleep in his bed? Dopes CIO work? he is just going to get out of bed and come to mine. Do I close his door and lock him in? This will terrify him. We never close his door.

Oh the anxiety.....

Update: so we got him to go to slepe in his bed today for nap and nighttime. Of course one of use were in bed with him, but ya gotta start somewhere right. I think after his birtdhay we will start him going by himself. baby steps I keep telling myself. NOw I just have to stick with it.

Message edited 1/7/2007 1:19:38 AM.

Re: spin-off to Sunny's thread

I would never lock the door. I leave both my kids doors open in case they need to get out (also, what if he needs to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night?).

What we do if we're awake when they come in, is to bring them right back to their bed. For the most part, they stopped.Sometimes we still find them in their bed in the morning. You could always get a babygate if you don't think he'd climb out. I don't know that he'd have enough strength to open the gate if he was tired.

Re: spin-off to Sunny's thread

My ped told us the cio window pretty much closes at 18 months.

Good luck!

Re: spin-off to Sunny's thread

I wouldnt lock him in his room more for safety reasons and it doesnt seem right. My mom did that to me when I was about 8 and I was so scared. Friends of ours has a toddler size mattress under their bed and if their girls get up and are scared they have to sleep on that mattress so maybe try to do that when he wakes up and he might eventually not want to go in.

Re: spin-off to Sunny's thread

Re: spin-off to Sunny's thread

I would just start slow. Start him off in his bed and keep bringing him back it. It will be tiring in the beginning but eventually he will get used to it.
I don't know the rules of parenting toddlers but maybe a reward system would work for this? Like he gets a special toy or whatever if he sleeps in his bed for all the nights of the week?

Re: spin-off to Sunny's thread

Not sure if this will work for you but it works for me.

I would put Joseph in his bed
read a book
read a story without a book (where he adds in the details, elephants, pirates, etc.),
Snuggle him (lay down for about 10 seconds).
Tell him that I needed to go check on Daddy & I would be right back.

Come back in about 10 minutes to check on him.
Make an excuse to leave again (I have to clean the kitchen) and I'll be right back.
Come back in 20-30 minutes.
He was usually sleeping.

Also my girlfriend bought him books on tape (you can get CDs too). He would fall asleep listening to them or the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cd. His collection now includes some Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, etc. anything mellow.

Re: spin-off to Sunny's thread

we have been trying on & off for sooo long. To be honest, I know its my fault because it is soooo hard to be consistent.

I tried a rewards chart last year, but I think he would really get it this time, so maybe I'll try again.

Barb- I am going to try those things too. Its just so hard in a tiny apt because he hears me wherever I am.

I am going to do this!!!! I am going to do this!!! I am going to do this!!!