For those of you with little monkeys (or who had little monkeys). How do you get your little one to stay in bed, my 17 1/2 month old crawls out, I have tried to put her down for a nap 4 times and each time she crawls out and knocks on her bedroom door to come out. What do I do, it is obvious that there is no more need for the crib, so I will buy her a toddler bed now, but how do I get her to sleep? I didn't have this problem with my 3 year old. I guess I can welcome myself to toddlerhood once again, it is now official.

By Colette on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 03:38 pm:

Sounds like she may be outgrowing her naps. Try having her rest with a video or put a gate up and tell her she has to look at books quietly in her room.

By Tink on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 03:46 pm:

Ditto Collette. I insisted my dks stay in their rooms for an hour while they read books or played quietly. Many times they ended up falling asleep while they were in there and, if they didn't, I ended up letting them out after 30-45 minutes.

By My2cuties on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 - 01:15 am:

Thanks, I guess she will go to bed if she gets tired enough, she went to bed tonight just fine. I am thinking she may be growing out of such an early nap and wanting to take one at 1 or so instead of 10. Thanks for the help, I will have to buy a gate (good idea), I had one but it didn't fit correctly in our doorways (either too big or too little, no inbetween size to it) so I gave it away. I will need to get a new one now, One that will work.

By Kaye on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 - 09:35 am:

Since you have a climber, don't spend too much on a gate, because it may not hold her!

To get them to lay down you can do one of two things. You can sit there with her until she falls asleep (or lay with her). Or you can play mean mommy for a couple of nights and do your bedtime bit and tell her to stay in her bed. Sit outside her door and everytime you hear her get out of bed place her right back in and say NO, BEDTIME.

My kids sleep with their doors closed, so I needed to find a gate that the door could close with it on. It is safer for fires to have closed doors! The other thing you can do is put a door knob cover on their side of the door to keep them from coming out. But really I feel like you teach them early on to stay in their bed and you will be happier, and they can get out if they needed to (potty or sick!)

By My2cuties on Saturday, November 27, 2004 - 02:59 pm:

Update ~ She does really well at night and it even gives me a little time to sleep in in the morning while she quietly gets up and plays, then for nap I don't even put her down for one, when she gets tired she crashes and it is usually around 1 or 2 in the afternoon. thanks for all the input! I guess she is just growing up.

By Annie2 on Saturday, December 4, 2004 - 12:15 am:

I went through this with four kids. I can honestly admit, losing the nap time was harder on ME than on my child!

As a sahm: nap time = breaktime.

You're doing the right things, got great advice above. Reschedule her day to meet her changing needs. I would insist on quiet/nap in her room, at a certain time. Be vigilant and make it a constant.

You know the right answers. Follow your mommy instincts.