I need advice!?

Question

How do I get my 3 yr old son to sleep in his own bed? I am a single mom and he has been sleeping with me for awhile now. It is about time he sleeps in his own room, but it's hard for me too!

He hasn't slept with me the whole 3 yrs, maybe the last 2 (still alot!)

Answer 1

First of all you have to break the habit. This is where you will have to be strong You will have to establish a routine with him. It sounds terriable but you have to train kids to do what you want them to do. Get his bed time routine down first. Give him milk if he gets it before bed time...Help him brush his teeth....read him a book...Give him his favourite teddy bear /toy to keep in bed with him. If he keeps putting up excuses why he doesnt want to sleep in his own room keep knocking them down "I dont like the dark" Buy him a nightlight..."i'm scared" find the source of this and ease his fears. Also using a fan for "White Noise" may help also If when you put him to bed and keeps getting out...PUT HIM BACK STRAIGHT AWAY...He will probally scream bloody murder and it may take up to two hours but once you've started this you cannot stop. You have to break the cycle If you stop then he will keep testing the boundries and this will make for a nightmare for you .
Keep reminding yourself it's for his own good. Stay strong and you will get through it. This may take three days or longer...Keep your cool and you will do fine..........GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 2

First you could try to simply tell him he is a big boy now and needs to sleep in his own bed now. You can tell him that you will sleep in a chair or on his floor the first few nights, BUT NOT IN HIS BED WITH HIM. then a few nights into it you can sneak out of his room and let him know that he was there all night by himself and you are so very proud of him. And then say to him you would love to see if he could do it again tonight. Worked for me when I was a nanny. Good luck

Answer 3

Make it exciting for him.....have him pick out a new bed, new bed buddy....something that will ease him away from you. I suggest going to Build a Bear and making a "special" bedtime bear that he can sleep with in his own bed. Tell him that the bear needs to sleep in his room but he's afraid to sleep in it alone and your son needs to keep him company!! That or you ease him slowly away from it by putting him in bed after he's sleeping and slowly work towards right before he falls asleep (that 5 minute window) and then to putting him in bed before he gets tired. It all depends on how much time you want to invest in it, because I tell ya, you are going to have a heck of a time with that one!! But please,go with the bear and make him feel like he's needed. Also, get a bedtime ritual once he's in his own bed and stick with it!!

Answer 4

Ok well first u have to be strong and tell him to sleep, then have him in his room sit with him for 10 mins, and rtell him to sleep then close his door and leave, he will come out but each time lout him backk in he will cry all night u have to be strong to ignore it. Then after that day and maybe even 2 or 3 more days of repeatation it will stop and he will learn. I trust this info was informative good luck.

Answer 5

Move him out a small distance at a time. (Next to your bed.) Further away. To his own room.

Further, make sure that you stay there while he goes to sleep. During this time, he has a need for security and this will provide it during the transition. Also be strong. He will try to get out and come and be with you. Walk him back and sit next to him until he goes to sleep again. The few weeks that you do this will ensure success and the rest that you want and need.

Answer 6

A couple of things you can try. Have him help you pick out a big boy bed and big boy sheets and a big boy blanket. Don't force it, if you do this and gently encourage him to do it, it'll happen. I co-slept with my son until he was about 3-3.5. When I got pregnant and we knew he needed to sleep in his own bed (mind you, he is still in our room but in his own bed), it took a few months. But he was so excited about all of his "big boy" stuff and really took to it and now he loves his bed.
Good luck and gently encourage-don't force it...

Answer 7

I really feel for you, your procrastination is going to be a major frustration for you. You need to make him go there, and no matter how much he cries, you need to have him work it out.

You could try the 12 step program...
First, put his matress next to the bed
2nd move it a few feet away from the bed
3rd move it in the hall
4th put him in his room
5th ignore his whining
steps 6-12: not sure, but 12 step sounded better than 5 step.

Answer 8

Reward him for sleeping in his own bed. Failing that, ween him into his own bed. Let him fall asleep in your bed, then move him. After a week or two, when you see him get tired, make him lie in his own bed. Eventually the phobia will fail to be acknowledged and he will naturally sleep there.

Answer 9

My kids slept in my bed until they wanted to leave - about 5 or 6 years old. I loved it because i slept better - they never woke me up at night scared. In countries other than America that is normal.

Answer 10

don't worry about it, studies have shown that children who sleep with their parents turn out to be perfectly normal people, I love sleeping with my girls, (they are almost 2) and my husband hates it, so I don't get to do it very often. Just enjoy this time while you have it cause I guarantee that neither of you will want to share a bed when he's older.