Almost 3 year old getting out of her bed. HELP!!

[Anonymous]

My daughter has been sleeping in her "big girl" bed for over a year, just prior to baby brother's arrival. She has always been a good sleeper. When we transitioned her to her new bed we had no problems. Believe me, I expected battles, but we never had them...until NOW!! For going on 2 months it has been a chore to get her to stay in her bed at bedtime. Once she is asleep, there's no problem. Maybe the occasional nightmare and/or calling for us, but the struggle is really at bedtime.

We have always been pretty "routine" about it, and I don't know what changed. Perhaps it was when we took the safety rails off of her bed and that mental barrier disappeared, but I hesitate to put them back on because she has to learn at some point, right?

I have tried walking her back in with no emotion time and time again, but that usually leads to my frustration and/or yelling and I'd probably be better at that if I wasn't worried about her waking up 11 month old brother who now is sleeping with a sound machine in his room that is so loud that I feel sorry for him until sister falls asleep.

I got her a cd player and lullibies and stories on cd, I've given her a flashlight and taken it away, she has nightlights, a "lovey" that she's had forever, I've taken that "lovey" away, but nothing seems to work.

Last weekend my sister had to babysit for us and put my daughter to sleep and said she didn't have any problems. That she called out for me once after being put to bed and when my sister came in and read her one more story she went to sleep and was never heard from again.

The big issue that I have is that she is not falling asleep until around 9PM!! on average and getting up in the 6 o'clock hour the next morning, exhausted by 10:30 or 11 and napping early in the day, which would be fine if I didn't have another baby and never wanted to leave the house. Please keep in mind that this previously good sleeper also used to go to bed around 7 pm.

What can I do to keep this girlie in her bed and get some decent sleep?! Someone help!!

[Anonymous]

OP-I hope you get some answers. I am the nanny for a set of twins. When I have the boys , I do not have issues putting them to bed or for naps during the day.

On the other hand, the parents have a time with this. This week they have not fallen asleep before midinight!!! I cut the nap out for two days and it still didn't make a difference!

Good Luck! You are not the only one out there with this issue!

[Anonymous]

why don't you try putting the rail back on if you think it started then...no big deal to keep that for few more months if it makes the difference. i also sometimes tell my son i'll come back and check on him in a little while if he stays in bed and tried to go to sleep...we have a little game about in how many minutes i'll come check on him. helped alot...