Making the switch from a crib to big kid bed is an important and much celebrated milestone. One of the most challenging aspects of transitioning your child to a bed is teaching your child to stay in her bed once it is bedtime. Your child has likely discovered that she is able to leave her room when she wants now that she can get out of bed on her own. She may also be experiencing new fears associated with sleeping in a bigger bed. In order to ensure that she gets enough sleep, you will want to make sure that she stays in her bed once it is time to go to sleep.
Create A Predictable Bedtime Routine
A predictable bedtime routine will tell your child that bedtime is approaching and will help her begin to prepare herself to go to sleep. According to Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway, authors of "What to Expect: The Toddler Years," it is important to use a consistent bedtime routine when you first switch your child to her new bed because it will allow you to build your child's enthusiasm for sleeping in a big kid bed. As time passes and your child gets used to sleeping in her new bed, a consistent bedtime routine will continue to signal that the time for sleep is coming. Murkoff, Eisenberg and Hathaway also recommend that you do not give in to your child's repeated requests for drinks of water or another blanket because it will only encourage your child to continue getting out of bed.
Calm Your Child's Fears
Your child may be getting out of bed because she is experiencing new fears related to sleeping in a bigger and less confined bed. Kids Health recommends that you go to your child's room and comfort her while she is in bed to help her learn that her new bed is safe and that her bedroom is still a safe place to sleep. You can ask your child what she is afraid of and help comfort her by telling her that she is safe. Nightlights are another recommendation that Kids Health offers because they can help your child see when the light is off. You are also encouraged to let your child know that you will come back to check on her if she stays in her bed.
Be Consistent
According to Jennifer Waldburger and Jill Spivack, authors of "The Sleepeasy Solution: The Exhausted Parent's Guide to Getting Your Child To Sleep: From Birth to Age Five," consistency is an important way to send the message to your child that she needs to stay in her bed and go to sleep. Waldburger and Spivack recommend immediately returning your child to her bed if she gets out. You should continue walking her back to her room without engaging in conversation or anything entertaining. If you consistently return her to her bed she will learn that getting out of bed is not fun and will eventually go to sleep on her own. Praise is an important accompaniment to this tip, say Waldburger and Spivack, because positive reinforcement will encourage your child to continue staying in her bed every night because it pleases you.
References
- "What to Expect: The Toddler Years"; Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway; 2009
- Kids Health: Bedtime Basics
- "The Sleepeasy Solution: The Exhausted Parent's Guide to Getting Your Child To Sleep: From Birth to Age Five"; Jennifer Waldburger and Jill Spivack; 2007
