Crib to toddler bed HELP!

Last week Joe and I got Noah's toddler bed out of storage for him to use until we get a twin sized bed. We want him to be completely adjusted to sleeping in a bed by the time the baby is born in July. The first night went great aside from waking up one time but then he went right back in bed after I calmed him down. Since then it has been such a struggle, he takes his naps in his crib because he has been fighting naps as it was so I knew that part would be a struggle. At bed time I put him in his bed, read him a couple stories, sing him a song and then shut the door. Usually when he goes to bed all I have to do is a read a book and then he goes to bed no problem, not anymore. He fights it so much, it takes him such a long time to fall asleep and then he wakes up in the middle of the night and pounds on his door. Putting him in his crib doesn't help, I don't think he understands that the crib is a punishment.
What worked for your kids?

[Darkestlight]

I dont have a answer just wanted to say that i dread doing this with allie as well. i'd like her to be completely used to it by the time our new baby gets here in july. I hope someone has good advice

[GRose]

DK-It is so frustrating. I just put him in his crib because he keeps getting out of bed. He cried for like 10 minutes and now he is quiet, he has been fighting sleep all together lately. I hope it gets better soon.
Good luck with Allie!

[AnnieBrooke]

Have you tried taking him to buy his own choice of sheets and (cartoon character of choice, even if ugly) bedspread?   Or one of those tents that goes over the bed so he has a "fort?"  Something to make him feel like the bed is his own, and a step up instead of something sort of unfamiliar, unprotective and unfriendly?   Maybe letting him sleep in his crib a while longer, while he makes the bed "his" bit by bit, as a fort or a car or a cartoon haven, would sooner or later get him to want to sleep in it.

[cminamyer]

I know it is hard, but maybe just let him fall asleep on the floor, and then go in and put him in bed. Getting the tent might work. We didnt have this big of an issue with our daughter, but sometimes she gets out of bed and falls alseep on the floor. We then later go in and put her in. It did make me a little sad to go in and see her on the floor, but she eventually slept through the night, without getting up.

[babypooh]

Oh, my goodness, that's a good idea AnnieBrook! Kids do like to know that they can make certain choices so letting them pick their own sheets and stuff like that would be a great idea! Make it sound exciting, you know? My son had no problem with the transition, but those are good ideas :) Good luck!

[amy0013]

We had some issues with our daughter as well.  As soon as she realized that she could use her 'big girl bed' as a form of independence (LOOK MOM!  I can get out of here whenever I want!) it was stressful.  We let her pick out her bedding and special blankets and that helped a lot.  We also had to resort to a night light (the dark never bothered her before).  She loves her bed now, but still plays the up and down game some nights...I need a drink...I have to go potty...I need my special stuffed animal...etc...

Just be consistent, as with any sleep training, and he'll begin to understand his new bed is here to stay!   GOOD LUCK!

[GRose]

I will try some of these ideas. It is so weird because he was SOOO excited when we brought the bed in his room. He plays in it, he loves when I read him a book in it but it just seems like he is having separation issues all of a sudden. I am not thrilled about buying new sheets since this is a toddler bed and we are using his crib bedding until we get him a twin sized bed. I don't want to spend more money than necessary.
I just don't get it, he sleeps fine at my sisters house and he uses my nieces twin sized bed. I am wondering if he will do better when we get him his twin bed....
This morning he was up at 4 screaming in his crib, I wonder if this is something more than the bed transition, it seems like he is regressing. He hasn't slept through the night in a week, whether he is in his crib or bed.

[Tanker Chic]

on supernanny they just keep going and putting the child back in the bed without sweet talk or kisses or anything like that.  You just put them back in the bed and walk off, if they get out of the bed again, you put them back in the bed and walk off... they just keep doing that over and over until the child stops getting out.  It always works on T.V., so it must be legit right? :)  

p.s. Of course you give them lots of sweet talk and kisses when you first put them to bed, just not all the times after that.  

[AnnieBrooke]

Noah is only 2, right?  I don't think he sound like he is being willful or stubborn, he sounds (by the waking up screaming at 4 am) disoriented and frightened.  I wouldn't scrimp if you think sheets and blankets of his own choice will help him make it feel more safe and loving, after all, the other option would have you buying another crib for the new baby and having two cribs!  Give him time and safety, he's pretty young for this change.

If you think it might help and not open a whole can of worms, you might consider putting the toddler bed in your bedroom.  I know, I know, then you will have the problem of moving him out of your room later, and I don't necessarily recommend this for someone whose child already sleeps well on his own in another room.  But again, you are trying to make things less scary, and if you really don't want to spend any money on bedding and so on, this would cost nothing.