[buglover]

DS turned 2 in March and we decided it was time to take the rails off his cot. The first couple of weeks he was great at sleep time and didn't get out of bed at all. during nap time tho we just can't get him to stay in bed. so nap times have been few and far between. now for the last 2 weeks he has been getting out of bed constantly taking up to 2 hours to get him to stay in bed and go to sleep. at first putting him back in each time he got up and not making eye contact or speaking to him eventually worked but now he is screaming and thrashing about and refusing to get into bed at all. if we pick him up and put him in he is straight back out thrashing and screaming. we are trying to be persistent but its getting exhausting and now that hes screaming it just seems to be getting worse not better.

we were thinking of getting him a single bed instead of just using his cot without the rail any thoughts?

any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

[Mumof2Pink]

I was actually going to come in and post almost the same thing!!! I sympathise. My 2yr old (Feb) is in a bed with side rails and she too was really good for the first couple of weeks and now she is a nightmare. Day sleeps are a thing of the past (I just cant get her to stay in bed) and it is taking me till 9.30pm at night to get her to sleep (with lots of screaming and crying from both of us). I threatened to put her back in her cot to sleep (it is still in the same room with her) and this worked for a few days but now doesn't work.

She was exhausted tonight and I sat on the end of her bed for about 5 mins while she settled down then told her I was going to stand outside the door for a bit. She kept calling me from inside her room but I just kept saying reasurring things and she stayed in her bed. Eventually she must have gone to sleep as I couldn't hear anything. I thought maybe she was scared to sleep in the bed? I don't know if it will work tomorrow night or not and I dont hold out much hope for her day sleeps but maybe she'll eventually stop getting upset about sleeping in the bed and she'll develop a better night routine? She really wants to be in the bed as she hates it when I put her in the cot as punishment. I think she's torn between wanting to be a big girl like her sister and sleep in a big bed and being a little scared of actually sleeping there? I'm not sure.

Any tips from anyone would help me too!