How to Get Your Toddler to Stay in Bed

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So you’re trying to get your child to stay in his toddler bed? I understand how frustrating it can be and here we will discuss some of the common problems involved with this process and why most parents often fail.

Do you give up after half an hour and put him in bed with you? If not, skip to the next paragraph. If yes, we need to talk!
It is much easier to give in; this much I understand. But will it solve the problem? No.
You will still have a toddler that won’t stay in his bed and you’ll still be pulling your hair out thirty minutes after bed time tomorrow.

How do I know this? Because I made the same mistake three times. Then three times I finally realized where I was going wrong.
I was letting my children rule the roost! Something I didn’t plan on repeating for longer than necessary. So how are we supposed to deal with it? How do we let them know who is boss again? It’s simple really, controlled crying.

What is Controlled Crying?

I’m glad you asked! It’s the process of letting a child cry for a “controlled” amount of time. Long enough to let them know that you’re not falling for their crocodile tears but not long enough to let them get distressed.

So how long is enough?

Basically, you put your child to bed. You sit close by-but not in his room! If he gets out of bed; you put him back. You don’t look him in the eye, or at him. This engages the child and encourages him to play up even more.

Then what?

Then you repeat the process over and over until the child falls asleep. It’s tough, it can get infuriating but it’s the only way you’ll ever get your child to go to sleep.

What if My Child Cries?

Let him cry! For a controlled amount of time. If you sense that he is working himself  up then go in, lay him back down again, reassure him that Mummy is close by but do not engage him by rewarding him with eye contact.

Once he is laid down and comfortable leave the area. He will cry again! This is where it is important that you continue to do the same thing.
Children have a knack for sensing inconsistency and he’ll jump on it the second you let your guard down.

It may take several hours for the first couple of nights but you can be reassured by the fact that if you continue to do the same thing every night, in a short amount of time bedtimes will decrease in length.

If at any time you give in you will suffer the consequences and your child will revert to his former behaviour. Ensure that all adults in the house follow the same procedure so that in the event that you are not around he will receive the same treatment. Consistency is key!