How do I get my 3 year old son to fall asleep by himself?

Question

He likes to be held until he falls asleep. It wasnt a problem until I had a baby a month ago and now I cant always hold him when nap time comes along. how can i get him to be able to fall asleep alone?

Answer 1

first off, please don't bribe, let him be put to sleep by the tv, or other things that basicly show him that you are not giving him the attention he wants.
i am currently a nanny of a 3 1/2 yr old and a 9 month old, they both have a nap at the same time after lunch. what i do is take the baby with me into the 3 yr olds room, we all read a story ( this may take some practice to juggle), i tell him good night and you may want to try putting on some soft music for him to help him relax. the i go put the baby down for his nap.
it also might help to sit down sometime alone with your son and explain to him that even though you have the new baby you still love him, and are very proud of him for being a help.
i would also suggest that you set up a time with your son every day when you two can be together without the baby (maybe when daddy gets home?) and have some mommy time with him.
this may help as he is probably going through some emotional changes with the new baby and trying to figure out his new place in the family.
hope this helps, good luck :)

Answer 2

My youngest son is three and I have the same problem. I chose not to view it as a problem anymore, however, once I realized that soon enough hell be too big to even wanna hug me in front of his friends. lol I know its hard now that the new baby is there, but that is his security blanket for falling asleep and I wouln't take it away from him. Hell give it up when he's ready to. If you try to make him stop wanting to be held, it could be more hurtful than helpful. Just be patient and cuddle with both kids.......at least well have something to tell them when they stop thinking were the coolest....lol

Answer 3

I had to do this with my sister. At like six we all mellowed down and just relaxed. She didn't have any candy after 5 so there was not alot of sugar in her system. Then sometimes we would wtch t.v. and about 8 to 8:30ish I would go to her room with her and lay down on her bed with her and read a book. It takes some time but eventually she would fall asleep and i would leave her there. When she came in to my room i would put her back in her bed and stay with her till she fell alseep again. eventually she stayed in her room on her own for the whole night. For her nap time I would like play outside with her. Like bring her to the park or in the back yard. then she would be tire and just fall asleep. i also fed her warm milk. i dont know if it will work but i hope that something will. Good luck.

Answer 4

You should try and get the baby to fall asleep alone. With my second child, all I had to do was lay him down, and he would fall asleep. The only reason I did that was because I had to rock my older son. But then I realized I was defeating the purpose, so I showed him how his baby brother went to bed alone, like a big boy. He started wanting to impress me that way, so he wanted to lay down alone also. I got him a new toddler bed, and new comforter set. He really loved it! He then always wanted to sleep in it, alone, like a big boy. No more rocking him to sleep after that.

Answer 5

I had this problem with my twins. They are too bog for me to rock them together, and one wont wait for the other one. Heres somethings that worked for me.

I let them get thier pillows from their beds, and lay down next to me on the couch, or somewhere that I can hold their hands, or rub their heads. They still get the affection. After a little while, cut down on the touch time, and start just letting them lay near you.

Sometimes my girls will sleep on the floor when their are cartoons on, if I am busy cleaning up and cant sit with them.

Occasionally, I let them sit in the rocking chair, and they will rock themselves to sleep.

To make any of it easier, get into a bed time routine if you dont already have one. Start dimming the lights, and turning down the noise at the same time every night, maybe see if you can get in some reading time if thats possible. With time, just the simple signals will make it easier for him to sleep, and may even help your newborn settle into a pattern.

Good luck, and Congrats on the new baby!

Answer 6

My toddler became on oxygen for a lengthy time period, so we had to positioned her down asleep as a way to connect the canula. She is two and nonetheless received't lie down in her mattress, yet she will be able to flow to sleep on the loveseat if I rub her face and sing to her. the element i have realized is that maximum youthful ones have a nap ritual, some extra time ingesting than others. do not trust the hype. At 15months, i got here across a e book that would knock her proper out, so i'd advise attempting diverse songs, books etc. And to be honest, i finished attempting to positioned her in her crib unsleeping a lengthy time period in the past and it has meant a quieter, extra comfortable bedtime.

Answer 7

Does he have a big kid bed yet ? I sat on the edge of my daughters bed and rubbed her back and sang or hummed to her until fell asleep. Eventually I got to the point where I just tucked her into bed and kissed her ,read a book and tell her goodnight. It still works.

Answer 8

i dont have a child (im only 16 but do care/sit for children) but i think if you ease on holding him each time holding him less and less till hes used to you not holding him as much and also try to explain to him why you cant attend to him as much but also rem. not to give the baby more attention then your toddler. you want to give them the same amount or jealousy can come up into the situation and make it worse.

Answer 9

He still wants his mommy. Try to accommodate him for a while, he is still adjusting to someone else getting your attention. Comfort him. 3 years old is still a baby. That is his special time with you, wait til he is older, even another year or more if that is what it takes. My oldest boy was that way til he was 5 years old and then he suddenly got over it, when he was ready to.

Answer 10

Give him a reward for sleeping on his own. Stickers, his favorite food, or some other bribe to recognize his accomplishment.