How Do I get My Son To Stay In Bed??

[Jem]

My 2 year old son has been in a cot now for about a year.
Last night he slept in a bed, and im not too sure that was the right move :confused:
He wouldnt go to sleep at all, i layed with him for about 45 minutes and as soon as i left the room he was up and ready to play :(
My daughter was fine in her own bed, but i guess thats because she never had a cot, she was always in a bed.
Hubby got up for work at 5 this morning, and guess who decided to get up too :eek:
Closing the door doesnt work because he gets up starts banging and crying at the door :confused:
How can i make this work ???
Any suggestions ???

[poshBecks]

LOL!!

Hi Jem.... I know your dilemma!!! Just got past it myself. Here's what we did.

We started CJ with his night bed time in the bed. Put him to bed with the normal ritual. Bath, teeth , story & bed. Closed the door. We knew he wasn't on his bed, but he eventually feel asleep behind the door. When we went to bed we just put him on his bed. We did this everynight for ages. It has only been the last month or so that he hardly ever falls asleep behind the door.
Now we are working on day sleeps. I do a similar ritual as nights so he understands it's sleep time. Eg read a book to him on his bed. He's asleep behind the door at the mo I think, but he'll get the idea again soon!! :p

Just keep persisting!! :D

[shanias_mum]

Hi Jem, is his bed that he is sleeping in new? Or has it always been there? If it is new, take it out of his room and let him sleep back in the cot for a week. Then one day when he is in a good mood, tell him that you have a new bed for him because he is SUCH a big boy now. Ask him if he would like to help you put it up and make it. Let him put some toys on it or anything else he would like, and make it a big deal that it is a special new bed just for him to sleep in. Make it exciting, he will want to sleep in it. Maybe let him ring his dad, nana or aunt or someone special to him and let him tell them that he now has a special new bed to sleep in.

Then when it getting closer to bed time, remind him that he has a new bed and that he is a big boy. Make it fun, then do your normal routine, then say ok lets go lay in your NEW bed and read a few stories before we go to sleep. If he is a bit unsure still, lay with him until he asleep.

Or you can put him to bed, dont close the door but walk away to the lounge room or somewhere, and when he comes out to you, you pick him up and put him back to bed, tell him that it is now bed time and that he has to lay in his big bed. This will go on for what will feel like an eternity, but persist and dont give in, he will soon get the idea that he has to stay in bed, and will wear himself out eventually.

Remember make it all sound really exciting. He will get the hang of it - good luck:thumbsup: