When you move your child to an open bed, suddenly they realise they have an abundance of freedom and profound power. At the same time, you have less control over bedtime.
This new, terrifying imbalance can cause a disruption to your established day and night sleep routines. Until now, your child would call you, cry or complain and all you had to do was go and settle them, but that’s where it usually ends. Whereas now they understand there’s a whole new world of opportunities.
Most children don’t even realise they can get out of bed on their own for the first few days, but the penny drops over time with trial and error. They might play around or investigate the new bed when all of a sudden they will realise they can climb off it, because that’s what children do – they explore, test, learn and experience. When a new situation is presented, they will want to study and experience it again and again.
The first instinct at this point most is to explain it’s time to sleep and they shouldn’t get out of bed. After a few attempts they will get upset, raise their voice, cry and the whole scene will turn into a huge dramatic episode VS something that took just 5 minutes to achieve a few days ago, and it often goes downhill with time.
So how to do it right?
1. Make sure they’re ready for the move
You can read more about what makes them ready in this article.
2. Prepare them for the transition before it occurs
Show them the new bed, get them involved in the process of putting it up or choosing the new sheets, let them explore the new environment during the day and explain that starting tonight they will sleep in a big boy/girl bed. Ensure you do so as early as possible in the day to avoid too much excitement during bedtime routine.
3. Have your response prepared
Most important, what will set you for a smooth transition is your response to their behaviour. If your reaction to their 100th reappearance in the living room while you try to unwind for the day is shouting, anger, punishment etc, it’s highly likely things will only get worse in the long run as your Little One understands all they have to do to get your attention is jump out of bed!
How should you respond when they leave bed?
Walk them back to bed as calmly and quietly as possible, time after time, in the most monotonous and uneventful way. Once they understand there’s nothing to be had by their night time adventures, this will stop.
Important tip
Be ready for the testing to last at least a few days. In most cases, even if you’ve prepared them in advance and react perfectly each time, these shenanigans can last a few weeks (depending on how cheeky your little one is and how patient you are).
