Getting Out of Bed - Bonney Lake,WA

My son did the same stuff around that age. It took me about two months to finally get him to stay in bed. It was AWFUL!! I tried everything and eventually had to resort so swatting his bum everytime he got out of bed. That was really hard for me since I reserve spanking for very severe situations. The worst part was that he was such an easy child except for this... I would not have resorted to the swatting except that our home was only marginally babyproof and I felt that it was a safety issue for him to be wandering the house while the adults were sleeping.

I would try the Super Nanny technic. 1st time out of bed - take him back and say "time for bed" or "stay in bed". 2nd time out just return him to bed without speaking to him or making eye contact. Repeat as needed. It may take a few days to a week but he will learn that he needs to stay in bed.

We did the Supernanny thing for a month and it somewhat worked for us, but what did work and continues to work is we put a safety gate at the door instead of shutting the door. Note: It took about a week for him to stay in bed but we sat outside his door and he would just get back in bed. He will now stay in bed with the gate there but and we can somewhat close the door, so it is about a quarter of the way open and he is fine but if you just shut the door he is up and crying. I think it has to do with being shut in. Good luck, It was a very long couple months at my house but things are going smothly now.
Jen

I agree with Beth regarding the SuperNanny technique. I would also suggest that instead of shutting his door put up a child safety gate. He may not like being shut in. If he doesn't have a night light, I'd try that.

Have you tried putting a child gate across his doorway?
Another suggestion, maybe he is not comfortable with his toddler bed/crib. My little one is 23 months and she hated her crib/toddler bed. We put her in a normal bed and she does so much better. She still gets out of bed every once in a while but we just put her back (when she is up in the middle of the night she is usually thirsty).

Excuse my brief statement, but you already have have the solution:

Put a gate on his room, let him sleep on the big boy bed, and when he wakes, let him scream. At first it will be very, very hard for you to listen. You will have to have made up your mind that this is what you and your husband want to do--no turning back.

Stay calm--get books to read, and do not get out of bed! Decide before hand what time you will get him up, or how long you will let him cry or if you will let him cry it out. Do not change your mind.

Tell him the "rule" ahead of time (Don't get out of bed until Mommy comes and gets you"). You may not think a child his age will understand but you are setting a precedent.

The first time will be hardest. So will the second day. It might take a week for him to calm down, but he will get the idea.

Whatever you do, stay calm and unemotional until you decide to go and wake him up. Then be smiles and hugs.

I have heard to take off the door and put up a gate. Or I am sure you can leave the door up too.