my 4 year old will not sleep in her own bed, any suggestions?

Answer 1

My daughter slept in our bed until she was almost four. My dear mother in-law called children services on us because of this. So I have been there first hand and tried everything. We then realized that because she was in our room and we have a t.v. and watched it every night before bed, she became accustomed to it. So we went out and bought her a little t.v. with a v.c.r. We put in a movie that we knew she liked and she would go to sleep. After the movie was over, the screen was blue and it was like a night light to her. She has never slept in our room again and that was 3 years ago. I know it is very nerve recking, but don't force it. It will only make the progress longer and harder. I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 2

First , make her bed a nice place to be...nice decorative sheets, a comfy pillow, etc. Then it is time to be consistent!!! Develop a bedtime routine, something like...warm bath, story time, lights out. (You can have a nice night light for her too.) Previous to the routine, you can talk to her about "being a big girl" and sleeping in her own bed. Then do the routine...bath, story, goodnight! Tuck her in, kiss her, and say goodnight, and LEAVE THE ROOM! If she follows you or shows up in your room/bed, remind her that she is a big girl, and she is to sleep in her own bed, and put her back in bed. If she does it again, say "goodnight" and put her in her bed again. If she does it a third, fourth, fifth, (etc.) say nothing, and put her back in her bed. No explanations, no fussing, just back in bed. BE CONSISTENT! Do not lie down with her in her bed. Do not make exceptions. The first night it may take twenty times of putting her back in bed. The next night, ten, etc. BUT it will work. Don't back down, and keep the same routine every night unless there is a very special occasion.
Good luck to you!

Answer 3

Get a bedtime routine together. Before you begin the routine, tell your 4 year old exactly what will happen (I.E. first you will get a bath, then you will put on your pajamas, then mommy will ready you a story, and after all of that you will lay down to go to sleep in your own bed). Be sure to follow through on everything you tell your 4 year old will happen. If you like, you can wait in the room until she is asleep. But be prepared for the mid-night visits.

Resist the temptation to pull her into bed with you. If you get a mid-night visit, gently take your child's hand and walk her back to the bed and tuck her in again. This may take several attempts before she will stop the night visits. Eventually, she will sleep in her own bed.

I experienced this problem when my 2 year old transitioned from crib to toddler bed. It took him 2 nights to get used to the routine of sleeping in his own bed. I never got into the habit on having him sleep with me once he stopped nursing. Sometimes he would cry for me at night (to help him get back to sleep), but he eventually learned to get himself back to sleep.

Answer 4

Oh the memories of this with our son. What we did is make a deal with him that if he slept all night in his own bed that we would add a "link" to a paper chain link extending from his ceiling to the floor. Once the chain reached the floor he would receive a special prize. (his was new movie). After the chain was complete he was use to sleeping in his own bed.
If this doesn't work, make a plan that only one night a week (special night like Friday) is the only night she can sleep in your bed.
Good luck.

Answer 5

My daughter is 21 months and won't sleep in her bed either. Its weird because we just moved into our new house may 1st 2006 and at the other house she would not sleep in our room at all even on those mommy cuddle me all night nights she wanted to be in her room. so now she sleeps with me in my room and if i leave her alone in their she screams bloody murder, not whimpering i mean full out screaming mama, mommy, mommy, i let her go for about 5-10 minutes then attend to her that way she knows that she cant get her own way butits hard to do

Answer 6

put her to bed at a reasonable time before she gets too tired. read her a short story - maybe her favourite one each night as it forms a routine and children of that age love repetition. tuck her in and kiss her goodnight and leave the room. dont let her ask questions or talk to keep you there. If she gets up lead her gently back to bed. If she does it again, do it again and again until she stays. She may talk to herself in bed but she will eventually sleep but she must stay in bed while in her room. If she plays up then say you will have to close the door to her room until she gets back into bed and do this again and again until she stays in bed. If she gets up in the night you will need to force yourself out of bed no matter how tired and lead her back to her bed.
This will take about 4 nights of persistence from you but you will see results but dont give up or she will know that its possible to get her own way. stay calm at all times and dont get angry with her.

Answer 7

Treasure these moments in your childs life because soon she will be all grown up in her own room with a sign that says DO NOT ENTER, haha. She will always be your little girl but soon she won't be so little. She will start sleeping her own room just take small steps to get her there and don't rush her.

Answer 8

wait till shes asleep then put her in her own bed, make a chart up so lets say if she manages one night in her own bed in the week she gets a treat. make it a fun thing to do for her and not something she has to do

Answer 9

HAS ANYTHING CHANGED WITH HER SLEEPING ARRANGEMENT?MY DAUGHTER IS 3 AND A HALF AND HAS SLEPT ALONE SINCE DAY 1 BUT WE RECENTLY MOVED AND SHE WAKES UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO COME TO MY BED. THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS FOR ME IS TO TELL HER THAT SHE IS A 'BIG GIRL' AND DOES NOT NEED TO SLEEP WITH MOMMY ANYMORE AND THAT SNEAKING TO MY BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IS SOMETHING 'BABIES' DO SO IF SHE WANTS TO SLEEP WITH ME THETAS FINE BUT I WILL TREAT HER LIKE A BABY AND SHE YELLS"I'M NOT A BABY! I AM A BIG GIRL!!I'M GOING TO SCHOOL!!" AND IS ALWAYS MORE THAN HAPPY TO SLEEP ALONE

Answer 10

I had to move a bed next to mine for my now 5 year old,and gradually move it out into her room. Give them great incentives to sleep in their big bed,and once they do,praise and rewards.