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Night Time Wanderings
Getting Your Toddler Back to His Own Bed By Margaret Risk
Dr. Bartell has several other suggestions that might help. Make the crib or bed welcoming with sheets and blankets that the child chooses, for example, with characters from Sesame Street or Blues Clues. Comforting toys and pillows can help too. During the day, tell your toddler many times that "everyone sleeps in their own bed at night" and go through all the members of the family and where they sleep.
Elizabeth Pantley, author of Perfect Parenting, suggests creating a "Bedtime Chart." Use a large piece of poster board on which you number and illustrate each step of the bedtime routine. For example, put on PJs, have snack, brush teeth, read five books, go potty, turn on night-light, kisses and hugs, go to sleep.
"Post the chart at child-eye level," she says. "Allow the child to lead you through the step-by-step process. After a week or so the routine will be set, and bedtime will flow smoothly."
If your toddler won't stay in bed, she suggests that a parent calmly and quietly tuck the child back into bed. "Don't talk, just make the easily recognizable 'shhh' sound -- that means be quiet, go to sleep," Pantley says. "Take a few minutes to rub your child's back and wait until he is comfortable again. Then you can usually leave him to fall back to sleep."
For parents, sleep is a precious commodity. "Most of us feel we don't get enough sleep, and we'd be thrilled if someone sent us to bed!" says Pantley. But a toddler's point of view "sleep is purely and simply an unwanted interruption in a life full his or her life."
Gibson remembers having to carry her son back to be many times. "Eventually he learned I was serious about him staying there and he did," Gibson says. "Most nights, anyway."