My son won't stay in his toddler bed, what can I do?

You will eventually solve this problem if you are consistent. Just keep returning him to bed -- over and over and over again. Don't engage in conversation with him about it, and don't debate. Conversation and debate is more fun than staying in bed. If you want, you can also put a baby gate on his door so he can't get out (but this may not work in your case - he sounds like a pretty wiley little guy). After a week, this should be a thing of the past.

Good luck. Eventually your efforts will pay off. And don't worry - no one ever heard of an 8 year old who won't stay in bed.

Put a gate at his door so he doesn't roam the house and let him cry it out. If he falls asleep on the floor, he falls asleep on the floor. Eventually, he'll learn that he won't be allowed out of his room and he'll get into the bed. He's now learned that if he gets up enough and cries enough, you'll just give him what he wants. I'm not really sure why he even knows he CAN sleep in your bed. I'd leave him to his own devices in his child proofed room so he's set before baby comes.

I have a little boy who just turned 2 only a couple days ago. He started sleeping in a toddler bed about 4 months ago. I put the bed against the wall and in the corner. I had a wooden childs gate and screwed one side of it to the wall and at night I would stretch it out along side his bed. !. so he wouldn't fall out and 2. so he would think of it as a crib. It really worked. A couple weeks later I took it down and I haven't had a problem at all.

When u decide to go w a toddler ber, you need to stick to it, u will only confuse him and encourage getting up if you switch back and forth.

Keep in mind once they start climbing out of the crib, they need to be out, this is very dangerouse as they could fall and get badly hurt, or worse.

Now, put him to be w normal routine, storie(s) etc, and a short talk about him being a big boy and needing to stay in his bed.

Leave.

If he gets up and comes out, put him back in bed, but no more talking about it. Just keep putting him back in bed. You could also put a child gate across his door so he can't get out. It may take putting him back in bed many many times...but if you don't give in, eventually it will work and he will stay in bed. It may take up to a couple hours the first time (and that is the extreeme) or only 20 minutes. The next night it will take much less and so on...then he will test you a week or so after he has learned to stay in bed. Kids are all about testing, aren't they? Just stick to your guns. Forget spanking for this one as mentioned by some of the people above, that's like saying you should spank to potty train...NOT the way to go.

When he stays in bed all night, and he will, reward him in the morning... "we are so proud of you for staying in bed like a big boy!." one of our sons would do ANYTHING for a matchbox car, for 98 cents, a car once in a while is certainly not going to kill anyone! We did it once every so often, or other positive reinforcements, not all have to cost money, or be edible, use your imagination.

Good luck

I had similar problems with my son at that age. You need to tell him firmly what the rules are about going to bed. Also maybe reading him a story while patting his back or rubbing his head will help him to relax and sleep off and you could try dim lighting and soft music. I would give him about two weeks to adjust after that I think time out is in order. You have to let him know that you are the mommy and he has to do as you say because you know what may be best for him. Also everytime he gets up don't talk with him or play or anything march him right back to his room and lay him back in his bed and cover him up then just walk away. He may cry and I know it is hard to walk away but you have to. It may take several times in a night to get him to stay.

LOL -- worm milk

Hey, Mom, it's called FREEDOM!!!

All you need to do is keep putting him back in bed. Every time he gets out, put him right back in. Don't get mad, don't get frustrated. It's just new for him.

I have countless pictures of my daughter's nightly jaunts into other sleeping places. There is one where she is halfway under the bed, sound asleep. Another where she was curled up on the living room sofa, holding her favorite blankey. I also have a couple where she is laying right next to our bed on the floor.

Of course, now that she is four, 99% of the time she stays in her own bed.

After you get him trained to his new bed, it will go more smoothly. But, if I were you, I would take down the crib. You need to make the transition all at once. That will make it easier for him.

Have fun, and remember, it's a new adventure for him!

HAHA, the answers before mine were great.. however, I don't suggest shooting your son. :)

Does he have a special blanket or teddy of any sort? Tell him that it needs to stay at his bed. I tried that with a kid once and she stayed in bed just so she could have her blankie.

Or, as my neighbors did for their kid, they do make doorknob covers now that are childproof. The child can't open the knob from the inside unless they squeeze in a certain way, which no child of that age should be able to do. This SOUNDS cruel, but trust me, it helped a lot, and it's not like you're locking the kid in there 24/7 and starving them or anything.. it's just nighttime and he needs to know it. :) Just make sure there isn't anything in there he could hurt himself with and check on him occasionally.

this is a rough time for both the parents and the child

you tell the child that this new bed is for big boys and or girls

then when you put them to bed you stand at the door

and keep chaseing them back to bed,,and take the crib down

and put it away if you dont need it that way they start to understand your a big kid no more cribs,,,

From watching Nanny 911. Make sure he's gone potty and gotten a sip of water and put him in bed.

Sit next to the bed but don't have eye contact or socialize.

When he gets out of bed. Put him back in bed and say 'it's time to be in your bed now. Goodnight'

If he gets out again, repeat the above. He'll get the clue, you're not going to socialize, he's not getting out of bed because if he does, he'll be put right back into it.

When he falls asleep, leave the room.

Then, every night after he is used to staying in bed. Sit a little closer to the door, until you work your way right out of his room.

Hmm this is a toughfy, well even though he's two, try puttin him in his hands and holding him, n readin his a really colorful book wit pictures n all, wit like a nice smoothin voice in a gentle tone, maybe he'll doze off then you can gently put him in bed