Tuesday, June 09, 2015

Update on the Big Boy Bed

IT.IS.NOT.GOING.WELL.

Does this pictures scream BOY!!!

In fact, I think Anderson slept in it maybe 4 times since we put it up a week ago and that includes naps.  The first couple days he slept like a champ and I thought, hey, this is going to be easy.  And then he discovered he can climb in and out of it.  And open the door (we put up a baby gate so he can't get out of his room, but can still open his door).  And get out his toys.  Three days last week he didn't fall asleep until 10:00, 10:00, and 11:00, respectively.  We eat dinner after he goes to bed.  Those nights I ate VERY late.  The rest of the time, he has still slept in his crib and hasn't really tried to climb out.  He's slept in his crib very well too.  Two days this past week he took three hours naps, both of which I needed to wake him up.

Tonight we put him to bed at the normal bed time, 8:00-ish, and then let him crawl in and out of bed and do whatever until 9:00.  We were really hoping he'd settle himself down and realize we weren't going to play or talk to him.  We kept the rest of the house dark and even left the dog in there to snuggle with him.  It didn't work.  At 9:00 we put him in his crib and he fell almost immediately asleep.

I don't get it.  I don't know what to do.  What can I do to get him to stay in bed?  Do I need to padlock all his toys at night?  Do I need to wear him out more during the daytime?  Is he just more comfortable and secure in his crib?  Any thoughts out there moms/dads?

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I feel your pain...when we went through this phase with our first daughter the second was an infant and I nearly lost my mind! Thank goodness for their patient father! First, like all kid phases, this will pass and you'll have your evenings back. He may not be ready for this yet, but when he eventually is done with naps bedtime will be sooooo much easier. In the meantime you could give him the choice each night of sleeping in his bed or crib and if he chooses the bed tell him that if you have to come back to his room X number of times, then he will have to go into the crib. Good luck!