[Magic_Mikki]

Alex is driving us NUTS at night!!!! We put her in her bed for the night, and she gets out and throws fits and will not go to bed! We have to put her back to bed a hundred times. She is still in a crib, and we're thinking about putting her in a big girl bed, but we're not sure that is going to work.

Anyway, how do we get her to stay in bed??? She gets out so many dang times, I'm ready to smack her! (Just kidding!) And cries and just wants to cuddle with us. I know many of you had to have had this problem before... What did you do?

[ASheppa0821]

This is just one of those things that takes consistency and you putting your foot down. You have to win EVERY TIME. Right now, she knows that if she screams enough, she'll eventually end up in your room snuggling with you. I would start getting her excited about changing over to her "big girl bed" and explaining that "big girl beds" mean that you're a big girl, and it means that you GET TO sleep all by yourself like big girls do. Just say "you're not a baby anymore, so you can sleep in a big girl bed... but that means that you have to be a big girl and stay in your new bed!" I can't post the "jar method" enough. Get a jar and let her decorate it... Tell her for every night she stays in bed alone all night long (unless it's an emergency), she gets to put a coin in (get fake coins from the dollar store, or poker chips) the jar. If she gets out, she gets two coins taken out. When she fills it to the top (make it big enough for her to take about a month to finish), she gets to do something fun or get a toy at the store (whatever you know will make her work for it). It really works for so many things (bedtime, potty training, etc.). Hope that helps!

[kalhayd2]

Is she climbing out of the crib? Those crib tents work wonders!(or so I hear).

[Magic_Mikki]

Thanks for the replies! I am going to have to give the jar idea a try! I hope Alex isn't too young for it... She turned two in December!

And Lisa, I told my DH that we should get a net to cover the crib, but I didn't know they actually made them!! Where do I get one?

[mollymae]

I had this problem with Jack when i moved him to a big bed because i was scared he'd hurt himself climbing out of the cot. You sit by the bed, but don't speak or even look at them. Then the next night you move closer to the door then closer again the next night. Then you promise to sit outside the door etc till your downstairs.

Took a few weeks but it did work and he

[purelegance]

i think i found them online at target once, but they're a pretty penny! i think they averaged $60. you can get a pretty good toddler bed for $75. personally, i'd go for the bed. i've lost my train of thought now.. but i'll add later! lol. sorry! keep us updated though honey!

[kalhayd2]

Ebay has them for cheaper than that- BRU and TRU sell them, too. We'll use one when we get to that bridge.. because I value my sleep to fight a toddler who's not bed ready yet(if it's a fight to keep em' in- they're not ready to be in a toddler bed, imo) worth ever cent to me!

Good luck with whatever you decide.