Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Ordinarily I would say it wasn't a problem -- if it isn't just a
    stage of wanting to be like day care (which you could probably
    simply explain as "You take naps at school that way but here you
    have a bed"), you could get him a futon or a sleeping bag or put
    his mattress directly on the floor.   
    
    Kat at 16 still prefers her bed directly on the floor.   There's
    even a major advantage having a bed on the floor -- you can't hide
    toys, clothes, and cats underneath it.
    
    But the asthma is a complicating factor.  I guess if it was my
    kid, I'd try keeping the cat out and see if having the mattress on
    the floor caused a problem.  It could be coincidence that his
    asthma has been worse.
    
    I don't see any reason to change the day care unless the lack of
    cots is indeed causing a problem with the asthma.  Even then I
    think I'd talk to his present school first and see if maybe they
    do have some place off the floor that he could nap.
    
    --bonnie

    A friend of mine had the same deal with her (much older) daughter.  She
    had the advantage of age - the girl could tell her the reason, which
    was she was only comfortable on a VERY firm surface.  They tried a
    board under the mattress, but that wasn't enough.  Finally that bought
    an incredibly hard foam mattress and got her back to sleeping in a bed!
    
    Probably not your deal, but who knows?  How is he on other (harder)
    beds?

    Both of my kids (ages 3 and 5.5) prefer the floor and after a year 
    of trying to convince them otherwise, I've given up. I bought two 
    cute sleeping bags and let them sleep on the floor. Both also suffer 
    from occasional allergy/congestion. It's usually occurs when they
    roll out of their sleeping bags and sleep directly on the carpet.
    
    I have explained to both of them that the misery they experience
    some mornings is a direct result of sleeping on the carpet. They
    have learned 'cause and effect', so understand the consquences.
    
    The up side to this kind of sleeping arrangement is *no beds* to
    make and no sheets to change. Makes life relatively easy in the 
    mornings and laundry piles are a lot smaller.
    
    Of course the sleeping bags and pillow cases do get laundered, 
    lest you think I'm a neglective parent.
    
    We did try putting Michael's top mattress on the floor, but he
    still prefers to sleep in his sleeping bag (on the floor).  
    
    By the way, mattresses (top and box) can be completely enclosed
    in zippered vinyl bags. This goes a long way in preventing 
    allergic reactions from dust (mites) and mold, which can be 
    found in most bedding. 
    
    Jodi-

    
    My daughter HATES bed's....unless it's mommies & daddies bed.  Tara
    quit sleeping in her crib at about 10 months old.  At this time she
    was teething alot and I was up alot at night (still am) with
    her and would get so tired & worn out that I would pull out the 
    sofa sleeper and just sleep there with her.  Well this got old and 
    my husband got tired of it and finally said NO MORE !!
    So we went to the big pillow that we used when we went camping.
    Tara loved it & still does.  If she doesn't sleep on it or the sofa
    she doesn't sleep. The other night I was up with her and we have
    just moved so I thought, well just maybe she'll start sleeping in
    her bed in her room......oh well that hope vanished fast.  I took
    her in there to change her diaper during the night and as soon as I
    was done changing it she jumped off the bed and stomped back into
    the living room and flopped on the sofa.  Tara will be 2 December
    1st and really fuss's at her sleeping place and still wanting that
    &^^&$%^*()(&^$%##$ bottle to go to sleep with.  
    
    Anyway I always thought it was just my rotton luck to have a child
    who HATES bed's...but after reading this note I feel alot better.
    
    Deb G
    

    I have a nearly three-year old who suddenly wants to sleep on the floor
    and not in his bed. He has been sleeping in a twin bed for several
    months and has not had any problem.  We are expecting a baby in 5 weeks
    and he is aware of it, but I don't know if that has anything to do with
    it. He usually goes to bed in the bed fine, then later on climbs out
    and grabs his pillow and blanket and hits the floor. Sometimes he gets
    up and turns on the light in his room (by standing in a chair).  Should
    we buy guard rails for the bed or wait until this phase passes and not
    worry about it?
    
    Anne

    Anne, does he sleep by the door?  I have seen Matt do this, (he is
    3 years old). He tends to get out of bed and sleep by the light
    coming under the door.  We gave him a flashlight and he keeps that
    on now and sleep in his bed.  I don't think the sleeping on the floor
    is a big problem. It won't hurt him, and if he is sleeping obviously
    its not TOO uncomfortable. I would be more concerned with WHY he is
    sleeping on the floor than that he IS sleeping on the floor. If the
    why is not a problem, so what, let him sleep on the floor, he will
    get over it. Maybe its a way he is exercising SOME control over his
    life, that is, WHERE he sleeps.
    
    Jeff

    
    Since it seems he is getting out on purpose, guard rails would probably
    make no difference.  Unless (as Jeff suggests) you are concerned about
    some troublesome underlying reason for his doing this, I wouldn't worry
    about it.  Get him a sleeping bag, perhaps, so he can stay cozy even if
    he relocates his nest.  My kids never did this much, but I've been very
    glad they were willing to, when our travels or visitors meant there
    weren't enough beds to go around.
    
    		- Bruce
    

    Anne,
    
    Maybe you could rearrenge his room with him or buy a new night light
    together? Since he is putting on the light, that's where I would start
    with "questioning". Maybe he wakes up and is a little scared so he
    immediately turns on the light (in the same way he does all the time -
    climbs on a chair). I don't think guard rails are the answer because
    I'm sure he'll be able to climb over them.
    
    Another thing to ask him is if he gets cold or hot at night. My son
    will wake up if he's cold and call for me to put the covers on him.
    We're working on him pulling them up himself if he wakes up. If he's
    hot, he'll crawl out from under the covers but his blanket goes with
    him (he's yet to hit the floor) so finding your son with his blanket
    and pillow doesn't surprise me. Maybe your son is getting hot or cold,
    turns on the light to access the situation and it is easier to just
    take the blanket and pillow off the bed then climb back in a readjust
    the covers. 
    
    Another thought...is he toilet trained?  If he is, maybe he needs to go
    to the bathroom and never quite makes it (but doesn't have an accident).
    If he isn't, maybe he is sensing the need to go, and wakes up and isn't
    quite sure what to make of that feeling. 
    
    Andrea

    
    Anne,
    
    I'd at least be concerned about him falling off the chair when he's
    trying to climb up it to turn on the light.  Perhaps you could remove
    the chair from his room at night.  Then maybe he'll wake you up when he
    wakes up and can't turn on the light.  Then he also might be able to
    tell you what the problem is.  
    
    Mimi  

    To answer some of your questions,
    
    Alex is not quite 3 but he isn't toilet trained yet (though he does try
    occasionally). We did put a night light in.  He still gets up and
    climbs into the chair and turns on the overhead light.  WE have a gate
    on his room so he won't fall down the stairs at night (the stairway is
    right next to his door).
    
    Thanks for your responses.....
    
    Anne