my daughter is almost 7 and won't sleep in her own bed!!!?

Question

my daughter has a guinea pig in her room, nightlights, t.v. with satellite, a dvd player what more can i do!!! she fights us everynight screaming and making herself sick. if she does fall asleep in her room she never makes it through the entire night. ends up on couch or in bed with husband and i!!! trying to be hard core bout this but i sont know how many more nights i can make myself stay up yil 11 or 12 until she falls asleep!!! she i start removing items from her room? what?!!!!!! please anyone advice please!!!!.......tired and cranky

Answer 1

Why won't she sleep in her bed? Your daughter is old enough to understand and can answer your questions. Do you shut the door to her room? Maybe it would help to keep it open. A screen door instead of a regular door would be a fix if you have to have a door.

Consider allowing your child to help decorate by at the very least picking out the bedding. For the more ambitious adventurers, give your child choices of a bedroom theme, positioning of bed and furniture (with your help, of course), and overall look and feel. The general idea is you want your child to absolutely LOVE his/her room and want to spend time in it!
Some parents move their child to a twin or even larger bed as soon as a child graduates from the crib. For some children, that is fine, but others may feel intimidated or even threatened by its size. Depending on a child's nature, toddler beds can provide a nice transition between crib and twin. These beds often are available in theme designs, such as a race car or castle. Make sure your child can easily get in and out of bed and feels comfortable in it.
The routine does not need to be elaborate; however, it should be something your child looks forward to each night and considers a special time. This can be as simple as reading a favorite book in a special part of the room, having a bath to soothing music, eating a snack and then brushing teeth, singing a favorite song, saying a prayer, exchanging highlights of the day, or even a special bedtime kiss-n-hug ritual.
Sometimes its the need to go to the bathroom that then causes the child to wake and then want company.
Don't lie down with your child, or if you do, only stay for a brief time. You don't want your child to think he/she has to have someone lay down with him for sleep.
Don't weaken to crying or whining. If you do, your child wins. Tell your child you are not going to keep coming in for kisses, hugs, discussion, begging, or pleading. Stick to this. If your child leaves the room, simply re-direct the child back without discussion. Show no weakness, or your child will know that this behavior results in a change.
Don't over-react or give to much attention; simply say, "The rules are that you sleep in your own bed."
If you maintain consistency and the rules, your child will be sleeping in his or her bed throughout the night in no time.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

She has way too much stuff in her room. It's an entertainment center! Turn it back into a bedroom. Take out everything but the basic furniture and a nightlight. No books, no games, definitely no electronics, not even a guinea pig. Tell her this is not a punishment but you are trying to help her learn to be a big girl who can sleep in her own room all night. And until she learns to sleep in her room all night, every night, she can't have anything else in there that might keep her awake or wake her up. Do not argue. At bedtime, which should be no later than 9 pm for a 7-year-old, she should be in her bed. Begin preparing her for bed an hour before, with a bath, a bedtime story or book, whatever traditions work for you. Bring her to her room, tuck her in, turn out the light, close the door. If she screams and argues, she still stays there. With nothing to do, she will eventually fall asleep. If she leaves her bed in the night and comes to yours, put her back in her own room. You have to be firm about this and you can't waffle. Give her a small reward each time she sleeps through the night in her own room, but don't even consider restoring anything entertaining to her room until she has clearly made this a habit. Even then, there have to be strict rules on when electronics get turned off. You have helped create this problem and you have to put an end to the bratty behavior. It won't be easy and she will push every button you have, but if you stand your ground, you can win this battle.

Answer 3

You can't take away her stuff just because she doesn't want to sleep in her bed. My son did the same thing and I would have to take him back to his bed and tell him to stay there, he had a nightlight and everything, So finally I sat down with and asked him if there was anything we could do to make it easier for him to sleep in his bed. He said yes you can take the monsters out of my room. I told him their are no monsters in your room. The real problem was he was so attached to me that he didn't want to sleep in his bed, So we had to start looking in the closet under the bed and everywhere in his room. They think there is something in there when there is nothing at all, Something else that helped my son was he started saying a prayer every night and now he doesn't even sleep with his nightlight we also gave him some things of ours so he could smell our sent on it and that has helped to. But here is the pray he says that might help along with some teddy bears that he calls his gardenangel, Know I lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep, The Angels watch me through the night until I wake for morning light, Amen, That has been a big blessing and its been 2 years and he has stayed in his own bed.

Answer 4

Step 1: Lay down the law. Lovingly tell her that she is not allowed to come into Mommy & Daddy's room any more at night time.

(allthough it might be exhausting, you MUST enforce it or it wont work)

Step 2: Once she wanders in to your room, gently carry her, or lead her back to her bed. NO TALKING! If she talks, ignore her completely (she will try desparately to get your attention!!). Then leave the room. She knows exactly what things will get your attention- just ignore them. (this is hard).

Step 3: She will probably make a fit over the matter for hours. Every time she gets out of bed (could be 100 times or more), GENTLY lead her back to her bed, without talking! Eventually, she will get the idea that YOU are in charge and holding firm! Don't get frustrated, or she will think she is breaking you!

In order for this to work, you have to commit to this for a while. It might take several days or even a week or more! It will work, as long as you stick to it.

My wife and I had the same problem with our son, who is constantly challenging EVERYTHING. This method worked for us!

Answer 5

She knows that if she fights long enough, she wins. You have to last longer. Let her get sick, then put her back in her bed. When she wakes up and comes into your room, put her back in her bed. Whatever she takes out of her room, I'm assuming it's during a tantrum, put in a big box on a tall shelf so she can't have them till she can be good and listen and do what she is told. If you have another child in the future, never let it sleep with you and you can avoid the situation.

Answer 6

When she awakens from a sound sleep, does she seem like she is scared (from a nightmare) or just lonely? Sounds like she is at a period in her little life that is rather hard for her to understand. If she cannot tell you what's wrong, she may not know, herself. What is really important is that you do not over react and let her know she is loved and secure. Do what ever you can to help her feel good at bedtime. Try reading a funny
bedtime story every night. She will grow out of it.

Answer 7

you have to lay down the law, you are the adult, you put her in her bed, and walk out, tell her she is to sleep in there and you are going in your own bed, everytime she gets up, do not say a word to her, just put her back in her bed and go in yours, you may have to do this a couple times but it works, every nigth it will get easier, she will be so tired of fighting she will give up, you cant give in what so ever, keep repeating this until it works, remember do not talk to her or yell while doing this. And what about the stuff in her room is the problem, if its too much take it out, good luck

Answer 8

I can tell you what I did with my daughter when she was weened. The first night I stayed by her bed quietly rubbing her back until she fell asleep. We did this for a few nights. Then I stayed by her bed, but did not touch her, again for a few nights. Then I stood by the door, and then in the hall. It took about two weeks, but she has always gone to bed without a fuss since. I did it this way because listening to a child cry makes me nuts.

Answer 9

I went through this with my daughter when she was 5, I started putting her to bed at 8pm, I would lay down with her in her bed, if she got up in the middle of the night, I would take her back to her bed and lay down with her till she fell asleep again. Do not punish her for what is going on. Something is wrong that is causing her to act like this. I never found out what was bothering my daughter, but this routine finally solved the problem. Talk to her and find out if something is scaring her, you might be surprised to find out what it is.

Answer 10

take out the guinea pig and nightlights.
establish a bedtime routine...ie-bath or shower, quiet reading or watching a 30 min video, then lights out with you in the room holding her hand and talk with her quietly about good things then kiss and see you in the morning. talk about when you were 7 and how you went to bed etc. and keep putting her back in her own bed/room and tell her that this getting up during the night is not good for you health or hers. good luck