[paddasmom]

My DS has just turned 2 and we have decided to move him into a big boy bed because i am pregnant again and we will be needing the cot, and we wanted to get him used to his new bed in plenty of time. Also we didn't want him to feel that he was being kicked out of his bed for the new arrival.
He has always been a good sleeper and although it was difficult to keep him in his bed last night, once he finally fell asleep he was out til this morning. Unfortunately his afternoon sleep has always been a bit hit and miss, sometimes he'll sleep for 3 hours, sometimes he doesn't want to sleep at all. I don't really want to drop this sleep just yet because i know he still needs it, and to be honest it is nice for me to be able to take a break or get stuff done when he does sleep!
So basically i'm asking for help on how to get him to stay in his bed for his afternoon sleep? Do i just use the same tactics i'm using at night? All i'm doing so far is using the power of passive persuasion, just leading him back to bed every time he comes out of his room.
Would love to hear how everyone else is doing it!

[Ruby Gloom]

Blugh, I'm about to have to deal with this too! Our DS#2 will be getting a toddler bed for Christmas and it suddenly hit me the other day that it may not go smoothly. I think I was spoilt with how well the transition went with our DS#1.

I've asked friends and had a think about it myself and the idea that keeps being suggested is putting a baby gate on his room. I figure that as long he's not distressed, he can stay in there.

I'm in the same boat as you, which is hard. DS NEEDS a day sleep but sometimes really resists it. For us, I've found giving him a time limit helpful - i.e. if he chats to himself for x amount of time then I realise the sleep isn't going to happen and I get him up. Sometimes he's out like a light almost straight away. The uncertainty is hard, but that's kids for you!

Sorry specifically in answer to your question, I'd use the same techniques that you use at night.

[lozoodle]

I moved my DD2 about 4 months ago, its been fine. Sure for a few days you have to keep returning them to their bed for what seems like ages but persist because its worth it. We have had no dramas ever since.

[Jen the hen]

This was the beginning of all our problems!! Up, down, up, down ... every afternoon and every evening for the last six months! Well it's not quite so bad. After trying a variety of methods from calmly and wordlessly leading him back to bed 15 times in a row to throwing a major tanty complete with foot stamping and banging the wall (us, not him) we found nothing worked better than anything else if he just didn't want to be there. So now I try to wear him out physically in the mornings if I want him to have a day sleep - lots of walking and playing at the park - and for the evening, we let him take a book or two and read with the lights on low until he gets warm and sleepy. Occasionally I use stickers as a bribe but it never works for more than a few days at a time. Good luck! jen

[lozoodle]

I find a baby gate on the door and ignoring worked well too

You just have to be consistent, whatever you choose to do.

[~bluebird~]

I'm going through this at the moment, there is less fuss for day sleep than night, helps that DH isn't here in the day (weekends are a different story, usually i get daddy to disappear for while)

I just keep putting him back to bed and usually after 3 goes he gives up. I have been delaying the nap a little though til he's more tired. I don't fight too much for daysleeps bcause its usually pretty obvious when hes readyto nap it just means it varies dayto day. In saying that with a few weeks to go till number 2 its usually me that needs the nap more.

Good luck, i had a friend tell me they other day that her ds now 4 has never once got himself out of bed

[LovenFire]

We had to compromise for the day sleep - master 2 sleeps on the couch, unless we've gone out and he's fallen asleep in the car, in which case, he sleeps in his bed.

But, even on the couch, he'll snooze for bout 3 hours, and often through the baby crying too.

Good luck

[Covert]

We went through this recently.

DS was about 3 weeks short of his second birthday when we moved him in to his bed. There was no transition period, it was done all in one hit. The first two nights were slightly rough, but we alleviated this by lying down with him in bed (he has a king single) and when he was all dozy and relaxed we would kiss him, get up and leave.

The day sleeps were harder. The first few days he didn't nap but then I started taking him out and running him ragged. He got up a few times but I simply led him back to bed, kissed him told him it's sleep time and that I would be back soon to check on him.

He now goes down for his day sleeps and night sleeps without a problem and he has only been in his bed for 4 weeks.

We didn't feel comfortable with locking him in his room or ignoring him. We're a bit soft like that.

Now DS won't get out of his bed at all. In the mornings he yells out to me and as soon as I got in to his room he jumps off his bed and starts his day.

Good luck with it. It does require a lot of patience and committment.