Our toddler (2 yr) just got a bed instead of a cot. The cot had high sides and she wasn't able to get out of it by herself. We bought her a bed recently, because she grew out of the cot.
While we were always under the impression that she was an excellent sleeper she now ghosts around all night and keeps the whole family awake. She also doesn't stay in bed for her afternoon nap. What to do?
Abusing this newly gained open-bed freedom is quite common. My friends just locked their kid in his room, allowing him to roam, but only there. Fortunately, this was only a phase and he started to sleep better after a few weeks. Nightwakings would make him still roam around, though.
There is little point fighting it - you have already commited to a bed, for better or worse. You can't strap him to the bed, it'd have a very bad effect. Be strong and try to ignore his roaming as long as he's safe.
our kid started to do exactly same thing when he was 19 months old. Before that he went to sleep very easily.
One evening, when we put him to bed, he stood up and started to walk around our house. I carried him back to bed many many times but after 50 mins I realized that this will not work. I still tried that few evenings.
We changed plan. Every evening we sit next to his bed. When he tried to come out from his bed we first told him that now is time to sleep and put him back to bed. After few times we then totally ingnored him but still sitting next to him. No eye contact and talking. juat sitting next to hia bed. We also tried to block his way out from bed and putting him back to bed without saying anything. Sometimes he tried to get attention biting, jumping, laughing, crying etc. Still no any contact to him after the first few minutes.
It worked.
After few weeks he realised that he needs to stay in bed. But still after 5 month when we leave the room he leaves immediately from his bed so we still sit next to his bed in a dark room, but it only lasts for 15 mins.
I hope you find a solution. Try many things, some thing will work.
