[Heyheather]

We just got the 2 yo sibling to the twins that we have had for the last 6 months. She was placed with us becuase there were alot of concerns in the previous foster home. She seems to be doing well although she has some speech problems - I've already talked to Early on. She takes her naps very well but when it comes to going to bed at night we are having trouble keeping our little peanut in bed. We go up there to tuck her in and before we're down stairs she pops up - according our informants - her foster sibs who she shares a room with. The first night we let one of them lay in bed with her and that was fine but I don't want to make the a habit so we haven't done that. I remind myself of all the calories I'm burning running up and down the stairs!

Any suggestions?

[arubagirl]

what about a baby gate at her door? this way if she needs you she can call for you , but she cant wonder the house

[mama-2-3]

I may get torn apart for this suggestion because a lot of parents don't agree, but it works for me and I stick with what works. I use a TV. Now - I am not big on TV and I don't let my kids watch it a lot, but for some reason, it turns kids into zombies and they fall right asleep (at least in my experience). I don't use it all the time or for all the kids. I just use it for the younger ones on those rare occasions that someone is having a hard time going to sleep and/or staying in bed. I have a small TV/DVD combo that I keep up in my closet and when someone is having a bad night, I just pull it out, plug it in, and the little one is usually sleeping in no time flat. "Jo" needed it for about two weeks until he finally started to feel comfortable here and could go to sleep without it, my son needs it maybe once a week or so, and the 5-year-old that is here now has been using it.

[luvmykids4]

I think that you have to do whatever works for each individual child. My kids all went through a difficult sleeping period at around 1 or 2 yrs. old. If it helps for someone to be in there until they fall asleep, then try it. It could be the adjustment of a new home coupled with the age. The other ideas are good also.

Mama -2-3: I agree that you have to stick with what works for you. Parenting is not an exact science, and everyone has different opinions. We just have to do our best!

[SHAMROX]

I read the other day where someone let their kid read in bed and they were allowed to fall asleep on their "own"...I don't know how old this child was, but I'm betting they didn't share a room with other kids. Sorry I don't have more advice - I've been lucky with that so far.

[ALfostermom]

i am having the same problem with my 2 year old. He always slept in the bed with mom and in the state of AL we are not allowed to let fc sleep with us. So he wakes up every hour and crying for mom. On his first night with us after about the 4th time up he didn't cry, i woke up to hearing the front door open. I have put a baby gate in his room the only thing he climbs over it and i'm scared he will get hurt.

[~*Max*~]

I "supernannyed" my foster daughter. It was tough - she'd always slept with mom - but after a week or so of the taking her hand and leading her back to bed with no talking or positive reenforcement, she started staying in bed. Then she discovered that she LOVED books and so I let her "read" in bed till she fell asleep.

[Withay]

AL -

Try stacking baby gates in your fs doorway. You may have to use 3 gates to get complete coverage, but he won't be able to climb over.

[Dmommab]

i've used several diff. things to get little ones in their rooms at night. For one I had to put 2 baby gates on top of each other & make sure the room was "babyproofed". Then I just let her sleep wherever in the room she wanted - bed, floor, chair, etc. Eventually (although it took 4-5 months) she got the idea!
With another child the tv was a WONDERFUL solution. I put a small tv & vcr in her room. I would pop a movie in when I put her to bed & she would almost always be asleep before the movie was over.
It can be tough! GOOD LUCK!!

[ALfostermom]

thanks, i tried stacking 2 baby gates tonight we will see how that works....he is my houdini

[MomwithFive]

<<I put a small tv & vcr in her room. I would pop a movie in when I put her to bed & she would almost always be asleep before the movie was over.>>

The TV works well here too. They get to pick a movie out and like you said, are sleeping before it's over. I don't have a problem tv's in bedrooms (they all have one), my kids love being outside too much.