Okay, so we switched this week to toddler beds. I HATE THEM! The beds, not the kids. : ) They are 28 months and we can't get them to lay down at naptime, regardless of what time they do down. Since they've been getting up earlier I thought putting them down earlier would work. No luck. Tried a dose of Benedryl, just got more crabby and out of control. Tried stickers whenever they were laying down, even every few seconds, no luck. Tried laying in the beds with them, they just party on, tried spanking, tried time outs in the corner, tried locking them in for 2 hours in hopes they'd party themselves out and pass out. No luck, all I got was 3 naked kids peeing and pooping everywhere. NOW WHAT? I'm at my wits end. We even tried bribery with icecream. Suggestions PLEASE! We are at the moment loaded in the car and going to drive til they pass out.

Thanks for any suggestions you can give.

Cherlyn

Cherlyn
Mom to GGB Gabriella, Isabella, and Tayllor DOB:3/2/08

Put the cribs back up and buy crib tents. They are clearly not ready for the freedom of a toddler bed. Try again around the time they turn 3. There is still plenty of partying then, but they are older and respond better to consequences. One 28 month old may be fine in a toddler bed. With most triplet 2 year olds it is just a big party.

Lori

http://yesidohavemyhandsfull.blogspot.com/

Maybe our guys are unusual, but we made the switch this week. For the first 48 hours or so, I sat outside their bedroom listening for footsteps at nap and bedtime, until they fell asleep. Warned repeatedly before I left the room, and followed through with spankings for whoever was out of bed. They are doing (fairly) well, though I had one disorientedly walking around looking for a blanket in his room at 1 am this morning (which was in his bed all along)....lol. I think he fell out.

Hi Cherlyn,
I really feel for you. We had the same problem when we first moved our boys to toddler beds at around 30 months. It was awful. We ended up moving them all into their own rooms and putting gates across the doorways. They are much better now, and if they do get out of bed, we know they cannot wander around the house or get together and have a middle of the night party.
We first switched our boys to beds because one was climbing out of his crib and we didn't want the expense of crib tents when we knew beds were inevitable eventually. If I could do it again, I would buy the crib tents for a few more months of peaceful nights and naptimes.
My boys are almost 3 now and bedtime and naps are no longer a problem. However, I do think it is because they are in separate rooms.
So, I guess I would suggest separating them if you have the space and if not, maybe crib tents would be a good option. Good luck!
Kyla
BBB - July 2007

Thanks. We did have crib tents but they knew how to get out of them, even when we looped the string on the zipper over the rod. : ) I was afraid they'd get hurt worse trying to climb out with the tent on the crib. Today we tried laying down again, which was about 50% better than the past few days, but not enough to actually take a nap. We ended up putting them in their peapods in their room and using a trash bag tie, to tie the two zippers together so when they tried to unzip them both zippers moved together and kept it closed. They cried, one of them got naked but they all fell asleep and I could care less if I had to wash out the peapod later. I think this may be our solution, give them a chance to sleep in their beds and if they continue to get up use the peapod. Luckily at night after about half hour they are all laying quiet. Although tonight Isabella did stand up and try to walk across the bed in the dark, fell and hit her chin on the edge of the window. After we got her settled down, she laid down, with the ice pack to her chin and fell asleep quickly. Poor girl. I felt bad for her and so did the other two kids. Must have scared them though because no one got up again after that.

Cherlyn
Mom to GGB Gabriella, Isabella, and Tayllor DOB:3/2/08

As long as you're consistent about the rules, they should "get it" in about two weeks. I transitioned my dds to toddler beds when they turned 2 years old. Partying the first few days but I didn't give up and within a couple of weeks, they went back to being good sleepers. It can be done if you really want to do it. GL! -- Gloria


Mom to five girls: ages 12, 10, and 9/9/9

We went through this a little over a year ago and I still remember the frustration and agony. The good news is we got through it! In the beginning it felt like the end of my life. They wouldn't nap and bedtime was awful. I stuck with it, sat with them until they fell asleep. I screamed a lot, broke the door and spanked for the first time ever too. Those were NOT effective! It takes a couple weeks but mine were a little older (34 months) and they were probably too young and I could have avoided some misery if I had waited.

If you're not able to wait longer, then try sitting with them. I would lie on the floor with a pillow and blanket and SSSHH them. Also, I used a reward chart if they stayed in bed and they would be taken off the chart if they didn't listen. A lot of rewards and a lot of consequences worked well.

Good luck.

Michelle
Sam, Charlotte and Jacob
June 14, 2006
29w6d (no the hospital wouldn't give me the extra day!)

The sticker chart worked well for potty training so maybe if I hang it in there bedroom it'll work for bedtime too. I tried stickers on them but that didn't work either. Maybe the chart.... : )

Cherlyn

Cherlyn
Mom to GGB Gabriella, Isabella, and Tayllor DOB:3/2/08