Constantly getting out of bed at night

I’m at my wits end with DS (24mths) getting out of bed during the night and his early waking. He was a brilliant sleeper from around 7mths to 21mths, apart from illness or teething he slept through regularly. At 21mths I decided to take the side of his cot as he is a big lad and it was hurting my back a little to lift him in and out. Ever since he has been a total nightmare for waking anywhere between 1 and 5 times during the night and needing me to put him back to bed and waking at around 5am thinking its time to start the day (today it was 4.15am). We have a black out curtain in his room but the light does travel up the stairs and from our room but cant shut his door as a) we never have and he now hates it and will get hysterical and b) he can open it any way (have a baby gate across his doorway).

He goes down at night fine (now, it took a few weeks to wean off the sleeping bag) and day sleeps too but all the resettling I’m having to do during the night is taking its toll on both of us. He is falling asleep much earlier in the day, wanting to nap longer, asking for the TV more than he used to and generally shirty but that’s probably just the joys of toddlerhood and my fuse and patience aren’t what they used to be. We are currently TTC#2 and I know those first 12 weeks are a killer for tiredness so really want to sort this problem now if possible!

Options I’m considering that feedback on would be great...
a)     Put side back on cot
b)     Buy a bed guard
c)     Buy a proper big single bed
d)               Limit his day sleep to an hour (wont let him do more than 2 now) or cut them out altogether
e)     Leave him to cry during the night and figure out how to get himself back into bed
f)     Leave him to cry in the mornings and figure out how to amuse himself until 6am

I’m worried that putting the sides back on will be really confusing for him and of no use anyhow cos he’s lost the ability to re-settle himself so he’ll just keep waking.   Physically the cot bed is low enough that he is absolutely fine getting in and out of the bed. Any ideas on how to get past this issue would be fantastic, thanks!

Thanks Nikki, lots of really good tips there!! I've had some success bribing him with pudding if he eats some vegies in the past couple of weeks but it kinda wore off after a few goes so I'm not sure he's quite ready yet. Lord knows sticker bribery isnt working for using the potty LOL

I think the music alarm clock is a good place to start, not sure if he'll understand just yet but cant hurt to start the process.

I was hesitant to jump into buying a new bed and bed guard if it doesnt help but I guess there is no way to know and we'll need it eventually I guess! At this stage I'm willing to try just about anything LOL

I've heard good things about clocks with early risers (like gro clocks)- he is the right age for it too.

i'm no help really as my 5 year old end up in our bed most nights. but i have taught him to go to his dads side of the bed so its his problem...

if he was still in his sleepsack would that stop him?

The monkey clock is great and works, you can also get it from baby city.

Daniel tells us that monkey is going to sleep, if he wakes up early and gets out of bed we tell him how monkey is still asleep so he better go back to bed and it only took 2-3 nights before he got the hang of it. If you go down that route though don't let them see you take the back off of it.

I must be a mean mummy!! Luke and Zavier went into toddler beds about a month ago when they hit two, and they worked out that they could get up when they want. So the first few weeks they would get up and cry at the door (we have always shut their door at night since they went into the single cots) and if they were still crying 10 minutes later we would check them out.

Then they got to the point where they would work out how to open their door - finding any toy they could to open it, and now we are at the point where bed time comes, they go down to bed with the door shut, and we have had to close it from the top, so they can't get out. And it is working. They just play for a while together and then put themselves to bed.

I guess that's a bit drastic, but they have dropped their day sleep now and that's the only way we can get them down to bed at night. Also they both know how to walk in their sleepsacks, so unsure if that idea would work?

I guess maybe try to drop your DS's day sleep so he tires out at night and sleeps longer?

Bizzy, lol I love that your son goes to DH's side. I need to try that one in the mornings. haha.