how can i keep my 3 year old in their own bed alnight?

Question

he wakes in middle of night and gets in our bed, i take him back but he just screams and keeps coming back. he wakes up his 5 mouth old sister in the process.

Answer 1

warn your neighbours they are in for a few rough nights, and use the rapid return technique. It really does work but you have to stick with it and not give in.
Every time your child gets out of bed, take them straight back to their bed and tell them they have to stay there. I only had to do it 2 or 3 times, but a friend had to do it 32 times in one night. Both our kids(aged 3+3half) now go through the night.

Answer 2

He knows he can get away with screaming etc because you don't want your daughter to wake up, and thus will probably be more inclined to give into his behaviour. I would do this...

On the weekend, or the first most convenient evening for you (maybe take a week off work to do this so it disturbs your schedule as litle as poss), if he starts coming into your bed, don't say a word, don't even look at him, just pick him up and put him into his bed. You will probably have to do this several times, but each time, say nothing and put him back in his bed. It may take several nights of screaming, but he will eventually learn that he cannot get away with it anymore, even if he screams and wakes up your daughter.

If you can, perhaps remove your daughter to a quieter place while you are doing this so it lessens the chance of her being disturbed.

Answer 3

My husband and I decided its not such a bad thing if our 2 yr old joins us in our room when he wake sup in the middle of the night. In many cultures co-sleeping is the norm. It makes children feel safe and secure. My sister did it with her children and they are perfectly healthy well adjusted honor students now. They stopped coming to the parents bed when they started kindergarten... But if it bothers you, then wait until he falls asleep and then bring him back to his bed. Tell him when you put him to bed that you saw a wonderful park for "big boys" that sleep in their own BED all night and you would love to take him there the next day, but can not do it unless he actually doe sleep in his own room all night. An incentive may be a better way.

Answer 4

I have the same problem too although it does get easier. Some people say that you should just ignore it and let them cry but I don't agree. If a child cries it is because they are not happy or insecure about something. This could be something small like a strange shadow in the room or a fear of the dark. My 5 year old hated to sleep in his own bed because he had nightmares so he kept coming into our bed. When he descibed his dreams they sounded like something he'd watched on the tv (Scooby Doo) so we stopped him watching it and he's now much happier.

Answer 5

time, at least, that is what I am doing. I don't battle with it in the middle of the night because of the other kids. As long as he starts in his own bed, for now I am happy about that. Some nights, I get lucky and he sleeps all not, but not very often. I know that is probably not what the Nanny would say, but I just don't have the strength and the kid knows it. LOL!

Answer 6

For the first night - take him back to bed and sit with him until he falls asleep. then each night after that take him back to bed and sit a bit further away until you are all the way to the door. By the time you are at the door he should be used to getting back into bed and going to straight back to sleep. be patient. you shouldn't really have let him get in with you at all, terrible idea but i am sure you will be able to remedy the situation with some time and patience! Just an idea.

Good luck

Answer 7

I have the same problem with my 3 year old. I found that its a whole lot less stressful on everyone if you let him fall back to sleep in your bed and then carry him to his. Also try to make it a great thing to sleep in his bed. Wow! what a big boy you are sleeping in your own bed!! I wish I had a cool bed like yours!....it worked for my daughter....mostly. I couldnt stand listening to her scream over something so easily remedied as to where she sleeps. but thats your call. if you can let him cry it out that may work, but you might also want to investigate why he doesnt like sleepin in his room. Give him something to keep "monsters" away...or whatever it is.

Answer 8

Can you put the 5 month old some place where she might not hear her brother? or maybe run a fan in her room to cover some of the noise.

You're right on. Just keep putting him back in his room. Even if thats all you do all night.

He'll out grow this phase eventually. Probably right after youre about to go insane from sleep deprevation. But he will get over it.

Answer 9

Apart from tying him down, very little.
You just have to be persistant and show him no means no. Not "keep asking or screaming until I give in." You have to show him who's boss. We have the same problem with our three year old and he's fairly demanding too.
We try to tire him out before bedtime so he hasn't got the energy to put up much of a fight.
Does he still have his nap? We've taken that little pleasure away from ours and he does go to sleep quite quickly. It might work. Good luck.

Answer 10

Are 3 year old did the same and so did most of are friends children of that age.
The best thing to do is to stay with them until they go back to sleep. I made up a bed in my daughters room stayed there for a while until she was a sleep.
Don't shout or raise you voice
It took about three to four weeks for her to get over it.