I have a 6 year old daughter that I cannot get to sleep by herself in her bedroom. any advice????

Answer 1

Start by gradually weening her. If she sleeps in bed with you, let her fall asleep there, but take her to her bed and let that be where she wakes up. OR, every night, put her in her bed, read a few stories and explain that she has to stay in her bed. Sometimes staying in there until she falls asleep helps. If she has to come into your room in the middle of the night, take her back to bed. Make it clear that she has to sleep in her bed. It can be hard at times and it may take a while, but the biggest thing is consistancy. If you fight her and finally give in, she knows that she has you in a corner and realizes she can manipulate you until you cave in. There may be sleepless nights, but if she keeps getting out of bed to come into your room, you just get up and put her back in her bed. The "big girl" approach may work, explaining that big girls dont sleep in bed with mommy and daddy. Make sure she has a nightlight or something that will comfort her. But it is a process that sometimes does not happen over night. You can also ask her why she cant sleep in her own bed. If it is a struggle, let sleeping in your room be a reward for staying in her bed all week. Or tough love...she'll just have to cry it out until she gets used to it. Dont put a TV in her room, but try music. Its often in the quiet when your mind starts to wonder. Get a few of her favorite CDs that are slow tempo and mello and that sometimes helps. I still fall asleep to music to this day.

Answer 2

I got my son to fall asleep on his own by::: when I would put him to bed I would say goodnight and that i loved him. I would leave the room. He would start crying.. I would wait 5 min. open the door and say to him its okay I am here I love you now its time for bed. Then if he started crying again I would wait 10 min. everytime I would have to go back to the room I would wait 5 more min. Its like that for a few days but it may be longer... soon though he got the hint and now I can put him in his room at night and the only thing I hear him doing is playing but soon even that ends and he goes right to sleep. I am not working on it with my daughter. The crying will wear them out and they will fall asleep. Goodluck I hope this helps. Oh yeah the thing is that you dont want to go into the room to tell them this. You just say it at the door and thats it.

Answer 3

I went through the same thing my 3yr & 7yr old at the same time. After doing alot of research through the parentcenter.com, I came across a link for sleepytime music, 'The Inside-Out Blessing Game' & 'The Floppy Sleep Game' by Patti Teel. I swear that after 15 mins of this music, they would start getting sleepy. I just sat in with them and guided them the first 2-3 nights, and it's so amazing how it worked. By the half hour they were BOTH out. Hope this works. Amazon is how I purchased the CD's

A soft nightlight is a must!

Answer 4

lol good luck papa - I had the same problem with my son at that age - he's 30 now and trust me he got over it. The most important thing is to be loving and supportive. Find out why she's afraid to sleep in her own room. Maybe she needs a nite lite or music or just for you to stay in there with her till she falls asleep. The techniques used on the TV program, "Super Nanny" work very well too if it's just a case of being spoiled but there is usually a reason for all off behavior. If all else fails your pediatrician may be able to help. Remember - patience and gentle firmness.

Answer 5

I am the father of 3 boys. You have to make it very clear the she is not allowed to leave her room after you have put her to bed. If she gets up take her back to bed immediately. When she gets up again (and she will about 10 or 20 more times the first night) repeat the process of taking her back to bed immediately. Say nothing to her as to avoid giving her attention. It will be a lot of work but after a few nights she will get the hint. Also ensure you have a strict bed time routine.

Answer 6

Well spanking her will make it worst, If she feels she has to sleep in your bed let her sleep on the floor make it so it aint comfortable, this will only last a couple days at most. or make her go to her room get in bed, and read her a story, then tuck her in and leave a night light on, you can always turn it of when you go to bed. Let her know that you will check on her during the night, but she is a big girl now and that you love her.

Answer 7

it is normal. I had the same problem with my 7 year old niece before. A friend from webdatedotcom adviced me to let her listen to good music in her room, such as nuresery rhymes she likes and read her a good story in her room so she'd be at peace there. Also provide minimla lighting so she cannot be imagining shadwows or stuff. Kids have very active imagination, doing that will help her have pleasant images in her mind.

Answer 8

Find a quiet activity that your daughter is interested in. Rather its coloring, reading, or even watching a movie. My 6yr went thru the same situation. What we did was put a colorful lamp, ie: favorite color shade, or charactor on it, each night have her pick a "down time activity". Let her watch her favorite movie with the light on. Outline her bed with favorite toys, stuffed animals. You have to just make her surroundings as comfortable as possible, let her know that you are just a few steps away. I hope this helps

Answer 9

Provide a nightlight,leave the door open,talk with her make sure that there's nothing scary to her in the room[I was scared of clown masks and toys]let her know you will check on her through the night.Since it's summer you might let her watch a movie until she falls a sleep in bed.

Answer 10

Ever try reading to your child. It will spark the imagination and help with grammar and creativity. Good thoughts, no bad dreams, happy endings, it's all like that.

Other thing, ask her what she is scared of and try to explain of no such thing, if that doesn't work, read her a story about the ghosts in the closet, the ones that don't hurt, they only heal and how playful they are. Being a positive role model is key to success.