2 1/2 old Toddler getting out of bed and sleeping at his door. Should I let him sleep or put back in bed?
Answer:
My 2 1/2 yr. old son does the same thing. I find him in the hall with his pillows, on the loveseat, in his bedroom floor. He drags all of the pillows from the couch, makes him a pallet, and curls up, goes to sleep. When I find him, I put him back up in his bed. Creative and comfortable. I let him be. He is not harming anything. I make sure the cabinets have the locks on them. Outlet covers. Even though he knows better, still best to be protected.
If he's not leaving his room, he's not getting into trouble in his room, and he's not putting up a fight about bedtime, what's the big deal?
I'd just let him sleep where he sleeps. Heck, I might even buy the kid a sleeping bag! Except, of course, that he might also figure out that sleeping on the floor is uncomfortable and learn to prefer his bed if you don't...
I don't think it's a big deal. I'm sure he won't be starting college and still sleeping in front of his door! It will work itself out.
Let him do as he will as no harm comes to him. Worry not, for he probably is just listening under the door due to his curious nature. Be cool... you got a great kid.
Sounds as if he wants to still be able to hear what is going on with those who are still awake. Not a problem as long as he is in a safe environment.
He'll grow weary of the game and change. I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Since he gets in bed when he hears you coming, you at least know he knows where he is suppose to sleep.
That is a tough one.
If he is not in a dangerous or unsafe place, maybe you should
leave him where he is, because he may be doing it to get
attention from you ... when you come in and check on him.
Or maybe you could move his bed, or keep the door open?
If he is craving attention ... why? Does he not get enough
attention, or is he being selfish. If you give into him he will
manipulate you forever. The reason we sleep in beds is
that it is more comfortable and warmer ... maybe he needs
to find that out firsthand?
Good luck.
The way to teach an intelligent creature something is not to
get mad ... I would say do not get angry ... it does not hurt
you if he sleeps on the floor, it is a question of control, and
there is not reason he cannot control himself, or that you
have to let this escalate into a battle of wills ... you are family,
let him learn on his own. The battle of wills thing can just
get negative and bad really easily, so if it is not there already,
I would not start one. Just do not get pushed around either.
Maybe take his picture asleep with a digital camera, and when
he is in his bed ... and see if he looks more comfortable in bed?
I don't have kids ... so this is just my best estimate.
Sounds to me like your son is playing a game, Just let him go to sleep and then put him into bed, When he finds out you will not be coming in there all the time , he Will tire of the game and stay in bed.
My daughter use to get up n the middle of the night and take her pillow , sometimes I would find her sound asleep in front of the T.V. or in front of the bathroom radiator. She would wake in the middle of the night and not want to stay in bed.
As long as there is no way he can get hurt, such as falling down stairs or going outside etc.My daughter out grew it so will your son.
the short-term sleeping problem might work itself out... but you have to consider what this will teach him about how you might react to something else in the long-run. if you corrected him, and he did it again... then this is disobedience whether it is causing harm or not. if after disobedience you are not more persistent, then he will learn to think that you will be lenient if he ignores your reprimand to something else also. if it were my child, i would make him sleep in his bed. and if not for any other reason... sleeping on the floor won't give him good sleep, and not enough good sleep makes for an irritable 2 1/2 year old. :^)
If he's sleeping happily and safely, let him be. It'll work itself out.
Let him sleep on the floor. My daughter would get up and play quietly with some of her toys and quite often I would find her asleep on her floor...a couple of times I found her curled up in her toybox! As long as they sleep and aren't being harmed just let them sleep.
Let him be and be glad he's not coming in your room/bed.
At 2 it's perfectly normal that a child will feel a bit "scared" being separated from mommy or daddy at night in a lonely room even though they have been used to it for sooo long. I also have a 2 year old son & even though he sleeps in his own bed & actually gets ready & waits for me to tuck him in, every now & then he needs mommy to stay w/ him. there's nothing wrong w/ that & will definitely not cause your son to get too attached to the point he can't sleep on his own.
I know we want our kids to be a bit independent but at this age they're still babies & although they may not cry or fuss, those feelings are still lurking around. I do the same thing - come in & out every so often to check up on him but, again, sometimes he has the need to cuddle w/ mommy just before going to bed.
He's missing you & that's why he's sleeping near the door but every time he does this you need to put him back into bed (repetition and consistency does work)
Just try to cuddle w/ him a bit longer on some nights & you'll see this will taper off - remember, one day they won't want us to cuddle w/ them so take advantage of it now!
Good luck & sweet dreams!
I have seen this same question many times and the consensus is to leave the child where he falls asleep(it is ok to cover him with a blanket) he will figure out to sleep in his bed soon. As long as he is sleeping he cant be too uncomfortable.
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