[KR258]

for my baby. She won't stay in bed and falls asleep by the door...She tries to get out and sometimes is able to but most times can't get the door open. I am not sure what to do to get her to stay in bed. I don't think she understands when I explain it's nap time and she has to lay down. I know she's tired I just can't figure out how to keep her in bed! My dh will lay next to her bed with her and that works for them but when I do it she still won't lay down or even sit and relax. She just stands there and cries to get out and it just makes our day longer because she doesn't take her nap unless I leave the room and shut the door so she can fall asleep on the floor behind it! I can't even go in there to check on her because she's blocking the door. Anyone know what I can do?

[DK615617]

Oh I am sorry I don't have any suggestions. I'll ask my sister later she has 3 kids, including one who was escaping her crib at 11 months. Although now that I think about it she laid down with her kids for a nap. Not always something people can do. I know as much as I would like a nap, her nap is the only time I get things done.
Good luck. I guess sleeping on the floor is better than no nap!

[KR258]

ugh! you're telling me!!! Today she had a short 15 minute nap because I am nosey and wanted to make sure she was ok...and she was laying behind the door sleeping and me trying to open it woke her up. So she wouldn't go back to sleep after that one! I had to put her to bed early she was so sleepy! So I just laid her down and she got up right away and I tried the method my mom said worked for her....putting her back in bed over and over and over and over and over....after a hour of it I was totally worn out and she was still going so I went back to my putting her down and walking out and shutting the door. She fell asleep behind the door again...She only cried for less than 5 minutes before falling asleep but I can't get in her room...I'm not really sure why that bothers me but it does!

[deedee1231]

How old is she? Does she understand pretty well when you tell her to do something...or tell her not to do something? You may just have to work with her on it. You know, explain to her that it is time to lay down and you need her to lay down and be quiet and stay in her bed. Just keep on telling her until she gets that it is non-negotiable.


I don't know what your rules are regarding her TV viewing, but if that won't work you might try this: when my twins were toddlers, they would not take a nap for anything!! So I laid them down in my bedroom (the only bedroom in the house with a TV) and I put on a Baby Einstein DVD. Baby Einstein DVD's are just babies playing with toys and classical music. Rather than tell them, "It is time for your nap" I would say "It is time to watch your DVD" and fix them up with little blankets and put the DVD on really low volume, close the curtains and turn off the light and they would fall asleep before the end of a 30 minute DVD.


I know it is pretty unorthodox, but when you have twins, you do what works! And even though she is not twins, you would probably prefer her to take a nap on your bed than on her bedroom floor ! HTH!

[KR258]

She knows when I tell her it's ni-night time that means it's time to sleep in bed. She know what it means when I say "pick up your ______" I can fill in the blank with just about anything and she'll do it. She knows what it means to lay down....I will try that for naps. She really likes happy feet so we'll see. I don't know if it'll put her to sleep but if I can get her to sit still for awhile maybe it'll help her not be so grumpy.

BTW she does this also at bedtime if her daddy isn't home (which he usually isn't home for her bedtime) It's all because of this new found freedom of not being in a crib. I suppose it was the same when we had her in the crib but she couldn't get out....the crying only lasts for 4 minutes most times. I can't seem to move her once she's asleep without waking her.

[deedee1231]

When you are putting her down for the night you might want to try establishing a consistent bedtime routine. That is what I have done with all my children and I have found that it works really well . It might not work for everyone but it is worth a try, although it usually takes a few weeks to establish and really see the results.


For example, say you want her down for the night by 8:30. At 7:30 you tell her it is time to get ready for bed. You give her a bath, dress her in pj's, help her brush her teeth. By now it is 8:00. You take her into her room let her choose a few bedtime stories, read them to her, sing her a few lullabies, and spend some time holding her and cuddling with her. After all of that, it is about 8:30 so you lay her in bed, tuck her in, give her a few more night night kisses, and tell her goodnight. If you do this every night, she will get to the point that the routine actually triggers her to become sleepy because she associates it with bed time.


If she gets up again you just have to be consistent with her and tell her she has to stay in her bed and stay quiet now. It does take some time and patience to teach them, but mine always knew that once I tucked them into bed they were not to get up unless something was wrong. But they really love bedtime because it is time I spend with them paying attention to their needs and making them feel really special.

[KR258]

We do the bedtime routine and it's usually all good till the whole going to bed thing. She doesn't sit still for a whole story so that usually gets cut short and she won't cuddle when you want to so that usually gets cut out too....she's just so on the go she doesn't want to stop. I explain it all in words she knows...I'm not totally sure she's listening though. I can't get her to look at me when I talk to her because she's thinking about something else and too busy trying to get away. I don't know how it's come to this? We used to do so well.

I spent 2 hours last night putting her back in bed over and over and over and over. The second she'd lay down she was up again! After two hours of it I was too tired to keep going so I had to put her down one last time tell her good night again and shut the door. She cried behind the door for 4 minutes and then was asleep on the floor again...At around midnight she woke up and got in her bed and slept the rest of the night there...............but today at nap time it's the same thing all over again! She's sleepy and I'm sure she must know......but she won't do it just because it's nap time. I tried having her lay down and watch Ice Age because she likes that movie and wouldn't ya know she sat through the whole thing and didn't even close her eyes once!! She yawned alot but never shut her eyes.

[deedee1231]

Wow, it sounds like you really have your hands full! Can you try to formulate a bedtime routine around what she would rather do? I would try using a timer too. For instance, if she would rather play with a toy or some blocks, play with her for a little while and tell her "We will set the timer for 30 minutes and play with your toys until it dings. When it dings, it is time to put toys up and go night night." Then explain to her that you would like to leave her bedroom door open but if she will not stay in her bed then the door will have to be closed. Make sure she knows that you do not want to close it, but it is very important to mind her parents. I think maybe she is just testing boundaries and trying to see exactly what she can and can't get away with. That is pretty normal, but rough on us mommies!

[KR258]

We tried what you suggested...She seemed fine with it and was waving "ni-night" (she's silly and waves bye and blows kisses like she's going away forever) I explained the door thing and she nodded and said "uh huh" and agreed to staying in bed......however 2 minutes after leaving the room she was back in the living room and I told her to go back to bed and she did for 10 seconds then was out again and I told her that she had to stay in bed or mommy would have to close her door and she ran away from me and made a dive for her toys in the living room (which I think is silly because she does have some things in her room to entertain herself if she just can't sleep)...I caught her and she thought it was all just so funny. I told her she had to go to bed because mommy had to sleep too! I rocked her and kissed her goodnight again and put her in bed. I told her I was shuting the door because she wouldn't stay in bed. She didn't cry but is sleeping right behind the door.

I got a second monitor so I can see if she's behind the door so I don't hit her with the door.....I think this is just going to be one of those things that's going to take her time to get used to. Is it bad that she has to sleep with her door shut and on the floor?

[DK615617]

I don't think it is bad at all. In one of your previous posts you said that she got up and moved to bed during the night. I wouldn't worry about it. Keep working with her on it, she will eventually get the point. She is probably testing you, don't let her win. She is a cutie pie, but it sounds like your in for a little bit of a bedtime power struggle. Mommy has to win, or you'll have a lot of power struggles to come!
Hang in there. She'll be fine on the floor. It won't last forever.
Hugs to you.