How to GTFO of Your Toddler’s Room

If your child suddenly wants you to stay in their room until they go to sleep, and you are itching to GTFO and turn on the TV, the best way to do it is to offer a choice.

Toddlers love to feel like they’re in control, so your best bet is to give them the illusion of it. You can tell your toddler you won’t be staying in their room, but you will check on them. Then, offer them a reasonable range:

⭐️ “Would you like me to check on you once or twice?”
Or
⭐️ “Would you like me to check on you three times or four times?”

It’s best to give them two options you’d be willing to commit to following through with, because if you let them choose any number, they’ll likely choose an outlandish one.

From there, leave the room and check on them shortly after so they know you’re for real and they trust the process (and you!). Then space the next one out a bit.

The goal is to have them fall asleep before you do the final check. If they don’t, you have to stick to your guns. At the final check, you remind them, “That was check number 4. Now it’s time to go to sleep. I love you. Goodnight.”

If they DO fall asleep between checks, you remind them in the morning that they fell asleep so nicely before you had a chance to check on them the final time.
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