Help with "Big boy bed"

[mum2ryan]

Hi everyone, any advice on this topic would be wonderful.

We moved Ryan into his "Big boy bed" over the weekend to try and get him settled before bub#2 comes along in 7 weeks. Problem is, he won't go to sleep in it, if he falls asleep somewhere else and we put him in the bed it's ok, but if we try and lie him down in the bed while he's awake, he'll scream, cry and continuously climb out.

Any ideas on how we can get him excited about sleeping in his new bed?

Thanks

[cwsmum]

Have you still got the cot set up where he can see it? I had to move DS when he was about 18mths...maybe a little older, can't remember...coz he climbed out of the cot. I packed the cot away totally so it was not there and he had no choice of where he would sleep. I also put his mattress on the floor, he wasn't too keen on even sitting on the couch at that age so I didn't think he would like his bed to be too far off the floor.
We also went out and DS chose a new set of sheets for his new bed...it was summer...maybe let your DS choose a doona cover? The matching pillowcases are fun too.
Maybe just sit on the bed with him thru the day and read stories, etc, and talk about how he is going to sleep in the bed at night. Then a little before bedtime remind him where he is going to sleep, then get him ready for bed...maybe read some more stories on the bed...he might even fall asleep :fingerscrossed:

[FourAngelKisses]

I moved mine before the age of 1 to avoid this problem so I don't really know if this will work.

Maybe take him shopping for sheets so that he can pick something really cool that he wants to sleep on.
Have him help you make the bed and with him about sleeping in a big boy bed and tell him how exciting it is etc.

Other than that, I don't really have any other suggestions. I hope you can find something that works.

[mum2ryan]

Thanks for your advice, we've moved the cot into the master bedroom ready for when bub is born and comes home so Ryan still sees it. During the day we play in his room and he rolls and jumps all over his new bed, it's just when it comes time to sleep, it seems like he freaks out at being in this new bed. He starts screaming, crying and climbs out. I'll just have to be persistant and keep trying.

Thanks again!

[Briannabear]

We got DD excited about her big bed by involving her in choosing linen and setting it up. We got her used to seeing it in her room for a while before putting her in it.
We also chose to start her sleeping in there at night before anything else. She is a really good night sleeper and is usually very tired and more settled.
Another thing we did was continue her 'normal' bed time routine. For instance, we normally read her a book, pray with her, give her a kiss then pull the string on her musical cot toy. We just sit her musical toy at the end of her bed.

Good luck! :fingerscrossed:

[gidgeroo]

Our DS was prepared for his big bed because its was always in his room along with his cot. When we decided to move him into his big boy bed it was around christmas (he was about 2.5yo) and I asked his grandparents to each buy him a different Thomas doona cover - that worked a treat - as soon as we had made the bed he never wanted to leave it. Also initially we had a bed rail on so he felt secure and told him his cot was for the new baby which involved him even more.