Making the decision to transition your toddler from their crib to a toddler bed is a HUGE milestone! It is such an exciting time for your little one, but can be overwhelming and a little troublesome for you; the parent. Now that they have a bed that is easy to get in and out of, it can become a real challenge to keep your kiddo in bed all night. Without the tall sides of a crib, toddlers can hop right out of their own bed, leave the room, and make their way to yours at bedtime or in the middle of the night! You are not alone. Toddlers are boundary pushers, and this is one of our most common toddler sleep struggles.
How to Get Your Toddler to Stay in Bed
Getting in a routine of letting your little one sleep with you every night can cause huge issues for both your and your child’s sleep. You may also fall into the cycle of needing a drink, needing to go potty again, brush teeth one more time, read another story, the list can go on forever… Toddlers are masters of finding reasons to get out of bed now that they have the newfound freedom of a big kid bed.
Bedtime (and naptime) protesting and resisting can be jarring as a parent. Your once peaceful and perfect sleeper is waking up all night long. If your child is around 3-years-old, you may be going through the 3 Year Sleep Regression. Toddlers will be testing boundaries and limits around this age! It can be unsettling and incredibly difficult to navigate. Your toddler won’t stay in bed? How do you keep them from getting up a million times? Let me give you some quick tips!
Sleep Rules and Expectations
Establishing structure around sleep can be incredibly helpful for some toddlers. During the day, we have explicit rules and instructions. At night, rules are so unclear. It is normal to see toddlers testing boundaries, especially when they don’t know where the boundaries are or where they exist. Make staying in bed a non-negotiable. Stay calm and consistent. Toddlers are emotional beings. They will feel what you are feeling.
1. Set Clear Boundaries and Expectations
From the very first night your toddler sleeps in their new bed, set clear and firm boundaries and expectations. Let them know that it’s time for sleep and they are to stay in bed all night until wake up time.
Don’t be afraid to introduce a reward or incentive for staying in bed if they start to have lots of get ups. Kids are super visual, oftentimes a sticker chart (like a bedtime routine chart) can come in handy when setting the expectation of staying in bed. Make a simple chart and let them put a sticker on it each time they stay in bed. Let them know that if they stay in bed x amount of times they can have a reward!
2. Have a Solid Bedtime Routine
If your child doesn’t already have a solid and predictable bedtime routine, now is the time to set one up, before you switch them into a new bed! Toddlers thrive on consistency and predictability. Bedtime routines don’t have to be long and complex. A good bedtime routine has a few consistent steps that you do each night to signal to your child that it’s time for sleep. It can be as simple as brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, reading a story, snuggling, and then into bed.
Having this solid routine in place before making a big change will help keep your child comfortable and ready for the change. With a solid routine in place, it signal’s your child’s brain and body that it’s time for bed and they will fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer, eliminating the need to get out of bed a bunch of times.
3. Lots of Positivity!
Nothing makes a toddler happier than making you feel proud! In addition to offering them a reward for staying in bed all night, making a HUGE deal when they do stay in bed has an awesome impact on your little one. Praise them up and down when they wake up in the morning having stayed in bed all night. Start each morning in a super positive way and it sends a happy and delightful message to your kiddo that you’re SO PROUD of them!
4. Night Light / Ok to Wake Clock
Kids have very active imaginations. Switching from a crib to a big kid bed can be a great time to introduce a night light to your kiddo’s room. This can help them feel a little more secure in their space and provide them the comfort they’re looking for in their new bed. If your toddler falls asleep independently and sleeps through the night but is getting out of bed at the crack of dawn, an OK to wake clock might be what you need. They light up green at a time that you set, letting your kiddo know that it’s OK to get out of bed. Read more about how to effectively use an ok to wake clock to help keep your toddler in bed HERE.
Sleep Shore Sleep Consulting
Is your little one having difficulty with bedtime protesting/resistance? If your child is unable to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up at a normal time, it may be time to consider sleep training. Sleep Shore offers personalized solutions for each unique sleeping situation to get your little one on track- whether they’re a newborn, infant, or toddler. We also offer in home sleep training services in the Boston, Massachusetts, Central Michigan (Midland, Clare, Mt. Pleasant) and Traverse City, Michigan. Sleep training offers babies and children with the skills to fall asleep on their own so they can wake up feeling more well-rested- and in turn, you’ll feel more energized, too! See what this mama had to say about our sleep services below:
“Our son Aiden (2 y/o) was struggling to self soothe and fall asleep on his own. We went to Molly and she immediately provided us with tons of information on how to help Aiden fall asleep by himself. She was soooo supportive to me every night when I was worried/stressed about whatever was happening with Aiden – she was always available to me and provided us with advice and coaching my husband and I on what to do and what not to do. Thank you Molly for helping us get back on track!!!” – Mom of 2-Year-Old