Can I teach my toddler to stay in their bed?
Do you have an escape artist? Is your toddler trying to get out of bed and maybe out of the room altogether? You are not alone! Toddlers are not magically going to know the limitations of bedtime unless you explain them. There are many reasons children get out of bed, but all of them create the same end result. A parent returning their child to bed constantly, or giving in and sleeping with them.
Is it possible to change this? The short answer is, YES!
You can teach your children to ride a bike with practice, you can teach them to tie their shoes. You can absolutely teach a child to stay in bed at night. It just takes time, patience, practice and CONSISTENCY! Children thrive on routine.
Some children get out of bed because they are anxious about being alone. Some children get out of bed because they transitioned out of their crib too soon. Others get out of bed because they are not sure how to fall asleep independently and know they will get their parents attention quicker if they get out of bed.
Whatever the case may be, it is possible to teach them that it is important to stay in bed and call for a parent if they need help. Finding out the root of the problem is the first step. Is your child falling asleep only if you lay next to them? Are they banging on the door until you put them in bed with you? If that is the case, you must first work on independent sleep, and then you can work on keeping them in their own bed. (*I can help you with that!)
Are they worried about being alone? Does your child claim to be afraid of the dark? If so, work on this during the day! Turn the lights out and play with flashlights. Talk about shadows, read books about being afraid of the dark. Make the experience a positive one. Explain that monsters are just pretend, not real. No monster spray necessary, just conversation. If they think they have something to worry about, they will worry. If you make it clear that they are safe in their room alone, then they will start to believe you.
If your child has transitioned from their crib a little too early but they were jumping out of the crib, then we need to work on independent sleep as well as giving them the security of their old 4 walls. If you can put up rails on the sides of their bed to make it feel more cozy, do it. Play in their room during the day and make it feel like a safe space. Make everything toddler proof, because now they have free run of the entire room at night. Put a lock or baby gate at the door so they cannot have the ability to leave the room. If they need you, they can call to you. Your toddler should not be able to walk around a dark house in the middle of the night. It is way too dangerous to let a toddler who is too young for a bed have the freedom to roam the house alone. Teaching a child to stay in bed is the last step in the process of keeping them safe.
No matter what your child is struggling with, it can be worked on! Do you feel overwhelmed with the idea of keeping your toddler safe in bed at night? Does is keep you up at night?
Schedule a free call with me where we can discuss options for getting your little one sleeping through the night safely!
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xo Melanie
