Your point of view, while reading this, may be you sitting on your couch while trying to indulge in the buttery popcorn you just popped, and binge the new episode of Love Is Blind, but one thing keeps happening…

YOUR CHILD HAS TIP-TOED OUT OF THEIR BED, AGAIN.

When we transition our little one’s into their big kid bed, we want to see that once we shut that door… they STAY in bed.

Through this blog we are going to dive into THREE major tips that will end the bedtime battle of escaping the bed, multiple times, before your little one falls asleep.

Tip #1

Ok-To-Wake System.

Sometimes our little one’s, when transitioned to a bed without barriers (a crib), find it hard to understand, staying put. The sense of time has not registered for them. So, we are going to help them with visual, or sound cues.

Visual Cues: The light on their ok-to-wake clock is going to change for three different categories.

Red: The most basic color that is great for little one’s to understand that red means stay in bed.
Yellow: Kids learn quickly that yellow means slow down and look. So, with the yellow we want them to know it is okay that they are up & awake in their room, but they still have 15-20 minutes before they are able to get up for the day.
Green: Green means go! I am a huge advocate for kids to stay in their room until a parent come’s and get’s them. There are many people who allow their kids to get up and come out of their room once the green light is on. This just depends on the child and their behavior.

Tip #2

Routine Chart’s

Routine Chart’s are a great way to let your little one be involved in their

Create a routine chart with your little one and have them walk through the steps each night before bed.

This visual cue is important too many children to know what is expected of them, but too also, create the routine.

This routine chart should have every step listed. Example:

Bath
brush teeth
playtime
book
pee
stayed in bed all night

This, “stayed in bed all night” area to check is cue for them to know that is what, “staying in bed til morning” means. It could be very easy for them to say, “I did stay in bed” when it is 3am without the actual visual cue.

Tip #3

Silent Walk

During bedtime it is important for parents to ensure they are not making things “exciting” for their kids. We want the little one’s to know that bedtime is medicine, and after good sleep, that is when fun will happen!

So, if our little one keeps getting out of their bed, after bedtime routine, then, we want to ensure that being awake seems boring.

If, our little one wakes and we are standing there “smiley” and ready to chat, bed is not going to look like the better deal. If, we are standing there quiet and calm, and silently walk them back to bed, without much interaction, they will quickly learn, uhh… mom and dad are boring at this hour. It is time for bed.