How do you handle getting out of bed?

[rosebean]

We moved DS to a toddler gate on his bed and it's been about 2 weeks now. Two nights ago, he was up and out of bed multiple times between 11p-3a. DH slept downstairs that night because DD is still in our room and he had to work the next morning. I am amazed with the number of times I was up and out of bed to him back in bed, that she slept through it.

Anyways, tonight he was getting up again. After the 5th time, I stood outside his door and held it shut on him. It took him a few minutes and multiple attempts to pull open the door before he started screaming. I went in, picked him up, put him in bed and he hasn't left since. I feel mean.

What are you doing to handle it when your LO keeps getting out of bed?

[rosebean]

I figured that sticking with our guns will make it stop eventually. DDs crib is in his room. She's not using it, and at this rate I figure that she won't be in it until after it's lowered. Honestly, I am considering lowering it and putting him in it after he gets out (with a sleep sack on him so he can't climb out) the first time or two. I wonder if he'll find it a consequence or not.

[rosebean]

trichie5 it's nice to know there is an end in sight. Although, I had one friend of mine on FB who constantly documented the nightmare it was to get her toddler to bed for months. I am so worried that will become us. :S

[aydee]

Would it help to put a safety gate in the doorway of his room so he can't get out if he does leave his bed? Or maybe a child-proof doorknob cover on the inside doorknob?

I shudder just thinking about the transition to a toddler bed. My LO's are going to sleep in their cribs for as long as possible! Maybe we'll transition before kindergarten.

[byebyebooze]

We put a doorknob cover on DD's door so she couldn't get out and roam the house. As long as she's in her room, I don't bother with whether or not she's actually in bed. Sometimes she plays in the MOTN or takes her lovie to another part of the room to sleep. She has never screamed/cried about not being able to get out of her room though. If she did that, I would probably have gone to put her back in bed.

[dc2london]

Ditto PP's. If he wants to sleep facedown on the floor in front of his door, then whatever. As long as he's in his room, I know he's pretty much safe. And not being able to leave the room removes most of the temptation to get out bed in the first place. We just gate them in.