Name: Climber
Chicago, IL
Number of kids: 1
Ages of kids: 2
Problem: Since my 2 year old started climbing out of his crib, we took the crib mattress out and put it on the floor, removing the crib. Well for safety-sake we have a gate at the door, and junior now knows how to climb over the gate. Bedtime begins with the usual washing up, brushing teeth and repetitive book reading. It used to take an hour and then extended to two hours. Now junior will lay down next to me for part of the book and then pops up. He wanders around his room and tries for any distraction not to avoid going to sleep. He hits sometimes and constantly tests me for what he can get away with. When I tell him that he shouldn't do that because it makes mommy feel bad, he laughs. When I tell him I will go downstairs if he continues, well he continues anyway. When I finally get up & go he cries and carries on and then climbs over the gate. My husband resolves this by bringing junior into our bed which I have a major problem with, especially since dear sweet junior is my shadow all day long. Somehow, dads don't "get" the non-stop attention that a demanding, active and relentless two year old requires. Help requested!
We have a 2 year old who was exactly the same . He is testing you because he knows the longer he drives you nuts the longer he gets to stay up. You need to stop the story get up and leave. Stand outside his room when he climbs the gate calmly pick him up say, "I love you its bedtime." Do not get mad and DO NOT TRY TO EXPLAIN TO HIM OR LISTEN TO HIS PLEAS because then he just got what he wanted a few extra minutes. Calmly leave and stand outside his room when he does it again do exactly the same thing. The first night it took 15 Times !!!!! I heard " you're a mean mommy !" "I don't love you" and I even got spat on and kicked!!! But you can't say a thing about any of this because these are just halfhearted attempts to keep you in there. Be persistent it will probably take a week. Make sure you praise him the next morning and let him call Nanny and Grampy to let them know what a big boy he is. good luck!!! PS ARE you putting him to bed too early, he might just not be tired.
Another solution submitted by Angela from Harrisburg, PA: Boy, do I understand your plight. With the exception of climbing, we faced the same problem. Our 2 year old would chase us out of the room, open the door we just closed, and stand at the gate and scream. (We live in a ranch home, and she could hear us just down the hall.
Our solution, which after only a few days, is really unnecessary now, was to put a door knob cover on the inside of her door, so that she couldn't open it. She screamed blue bloody murder for about 3 days, but no longer than 1/2 hour each night.
She has learned that when it's bedtime, it's bedtime. 2 months have passed, and she happily goes to bed, climbs in, and says, "Night, night, Mommy (or Daddy)!" It sounds harsh, but trust me when I say that these little ones really need a lot of structure to feel secure. Don't be afraid to try something new, if all other courses of action haven't worked so far. Good luck!
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