Issues going to bed now

DS has been in his full bed for over a month now. He transitioned great till he learned he can sneak through the rails and get out. Even though we got long rails the skinny boy can get through.
Since then we have had issues with him getting out and trying to get him back to sleep. Keep the door open, light on in the hallway, he has a sound machine with whatever pictures he wants projected on the ceiling, etc.
I started the sticker and reward system if he stays in bed and STTN.
It's just getting worse and the problem is he doesn't seem to understand us telling him to stay in bed. WE get advise from friends with 2 yr olds saying about the toddler clock or give him a toy or book.
Doesn't work with Mason. He doesn't want anything in his bed. Doesn't really get us telling him what to do. Whatever we say he mimics, but it doesn't sink in.
It's even difficult to dicipline him. I try not to get mad b/c he just stares blankly at me.
ANy other advise?
We also have a 6 month old so him screaming doesn't help. I let him scream, but he won't give up. Now he's opening and closing the door.
Maybe a gate even though he doesn't get out of his room. Just stands there and yells "Up, Up!"
Last night DH went in at 1AM and passed out on his bed with him.
Usually we're not a fan of starting a bad habit, but we need sleep.
He has expressive and receptive speech delays.
When he gets frustrated he'd rather hit his head on the wall b/c he can't tell us what's bothering him. I ask if it's his teeth or a nightmare, but too much language only confuses him more. I point or show pictures and still nothing.
Just as he's getting better with other things this is the only problem we're still having.
Thanks for listening if you made it this far

Message edited 2/7/2012 8:35:46 AM.

Re: Issues going to bed now

Erica has your DS had comprehensive evaluations done through early intervention or a developmental pediatrician or psychologist? ie, special ed, psych, etc.

I know you said he gets speech and OT, is it through EI? Have they given him a special ed and psych eval to determine if he needs DI? DI is what they give us in Jersey. From what you've written thus far I think he could benefit from DI services, DI stands for Developmental Intervention...I think in NY they call it special instruction. I'm just thinking with his level of receptive language that additional services can only help. Did you ask his speech therapist about echolalia? If he's mimicing then you are correct in that he's not understanding and too much language would indeed be overwhelming.

I can't help with the specific bedtime issue as DS is still in his crib at 3 yo. We just don't feel he's ready yet to understand staying in there all night either, and his receptive language is actually very strong...but he would not "get" the concept either of those clocks. So he's content in his crib, and it works for us.

Re: Issues going to bed now

Re: Issues going to bed now

Just so you know in NJ you'd go through a transition process with your school district before he turns 3 when he ages out of EI. Your local private preschool wouldn't handle it, call his EI coordinator/case manager and ask her for information regarding the transition process to preschool, and honestly, I would really ask the EI coordinator for a special ed and psych eval, if for nothing else to rule out any other issues and get him all the services he needs. And if he gets a diagnosis or classification then at the very least you can use that to obtain more services.

My DS is also super bright cognitively, knew all his letters and numbers long ago (he turns 3 next week), his memory is astounding, but he has other issues that led to his diagnosis and he needs these services to succeed in the school setting. I'm not saying your DS "is", or isn't, anything, but get all the services you can get now as it only becomes more difficult to obtain them with every passing year.

Re: Issues going to bed now

Re: Issues going to bed now

You may qualify for bus services, though not sure if it works the same way if the preschool is in your town and I'm also in NY. I work full-time, DS goes on the bus at 2:30 and they take him to a daycare. I pick him up from the daycare at the end of the day. So ask about this when you have your CPSE meeting.

Yeah, I would ask for psych and special ed. too, just to rule things out. My son is a lot like yours--knew his ABCs, numbers, and colors around 2 (he was barely speaking then, but his numbers and the ABCs were the first things he said--he could identify a full range of colors well before he could say the words). He also has sensory issues, though they have improved a lot with OT. Communication has improved too--despite the fact that he knew a lot of words (expressive and receptive) he wasn't using them appropriately or communicating effectively. The SD recommended speech, and at first I thought he didn't need it, but now I see that he did, but he needed help stating his needs and having conversations with others. This too has improved a great deal.

As for the bed, I don't have many ideas. DS went through a bout of nightmares, and I fell asleep with him a lot (when he was in the bed). When it stopped, he adjusted to sleeping alone pretty quickly. In his case, he is also afraid of the dark and shadows, so sometimes turning a light on in a room across the hall helped (his nightlight did not). When DS was your sons age, he did not get reward charts, but definitely give it a try.

DS gave us a hard time about going to bed a few months ago. Finally, I told him no video games the next day if he didn't go to bed at the count of 3. He didn't, and when he didn't get them the next day, he threw a fit. But then he went to bed. While I love positive reinforcement, I do find with my son sometimes the negative reinforcement is more effective, esp. if he is really digging his heels in about something.

Good luck!