Sleep issues

[DCJenn]

So, Nikolai used to sleep like a rock star. Even after we got here he was fine for about a week in the new big boy bed.

the past few nights have been horrible though. He figured out how to open the door to his bedroom and at least once an hour we find him wandering. We've found him asleep on the floor next to our bed, asleep halfway under the bed (Rick almost stepped on him!!!) Or, he'll stand and whimper at the door. He's very easily redirected back to bed though. I'm not 100% sure that he's not sleepwalking.

So, what to do?

Jenn

I wonder if it is partly due to the new location?

[PrincessFiona]

:>

Welcome to the wild side.


Once they figure out how to climb out of cribs, realize that they can get out of their "big boy" beds, and know how to open up the door...all bets are off. I always thought they should make cribs with tops (kind of like cages :> ) to keep them tucked away at night until they are about 8

At least he's going to bed for you right now....right?

You might try one of those things that fits on the door handle so that he can't open the door when he wakes up....or...a baby gate at the door?

kris

[houseelf]

Our oldest is a sleep walker/talker. It is beyondweird, like he is possessed or something. We lock down the house tighter than Fort knox and keep a baby monitor in his room.

As an aside, the bedwetting literature says that sleepwalking/talking is correlated with bedwetting, probably due to the fact that their little bodies haven't completely figured out the differences between the two distinct states of sleeping and wakefulness.

Kelly

[mommax3]

I second the baby gate, and maybe (if you don't have one already) one of those guardrail things to keep them from rolling out of bed......if he IS sleepwalking, not being able to get past the rail might discourage him from getting out of bed.

Sally

[DCJenn]

Thanks- I have a baby gate somewhere in storage. I'll go dig through there and get it out. The toddler bed has rails but only halfway.

The night Rick almost stepped on him it took me longer to calm Rick down than it did to put Nikolai back to sleep. ("I can't believe he was right there, what would have happened if I'd stepped on him...")

Jenn

I think the guardrail is a great idea in addition to the baby gate. Maybe that will help keep him in bed in the first place?

[DCJenn]

I was hoping that duct tape would be acceptable.

J.

Or a little B&B -- benedryl and bungie cords.

[SueC]

We went through a little phase where Mitchell was making a nightly appearance in our bed (usually he would bring along a dinosaur, dump truck, etc.), luckily he has stopped this. I think the baby gate is a good idea, that way he won't feel like he is locked in, but he can't roam about the house. In our case, Mitchell was having asthma attacks (in the way of coughing fits) that were waking him up.

[planet]

Or a little B&B -- benedryl and bungie cords.

The thought has crossed my mind....

[DCJenn]

So, we put up one of the baby gates (cages to be more accurate) and at least he's not falling asleep underfoot. He has been found several times asleep in the middle of his floor but I figure it's progress.

Last night he did manage to stay in bed from midnight to 6am. and I medicated my husband with Tylenol PM so that HE would stop obsessing about where Nikolai was.

The dog and I managed to keep everyone in bed and rested. Petey gets upset if everyone isn't where they're supposed to be so he actually helps!

Jenn

[Phoebe]

We have a night wanderer in our home, too. She doesn't sleepwalk though. She gets up and walks around the house and does puzzles. I think it is because she can get out of bed that she does it.

Jennifer

Glad to hear everyone slept better!

Petey. A herding dog's work is never done.