We lived in a one bedroom apartment for a while, and now that he has his own room and bed, he refuses to sleep in it. What can I do to make him understand?
2006-09-01 07:02:34 · 14 answers · asked by aclevelandmk 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
The steps I took to get my three year old out of our "family bed":
- took away his naps so he was really tired at bedtime (7:30)
- created a routine: bath, jammies, brush teeth, stories. The books were done on his bed, in his room - no reading books unless in his bed. Had him develop an attachment to "puppy" the stuffed animal.
- talked to him about sleeping in his own bed, had a week long count down.
- held firm to the countdown, and on the 7th night it was time he had to sleep in his own bed.
- everytime he got out of bed, we gently put him back in bed - but this is key - Do NOT make eye contact or talk to him no matter how much he protests once you say goodnight the first time. Act like a robot and simply walk him back to bed.
After a few days of putting him back to bed in his own bed, he no longer fought it and just goes to sleep. If we diviate from the routine, then we have total melt downs - but if the expectation is clear, he lives up to that expectation.
My two pence.
2006-09-01 09:04:12 · answer #1 · answered by curious kid 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's how some of my cosleeping friends did it:
Start by setting his bed in your room, but not next to your bed. Also set another mattress (such as an inflatable one) in his room. Have him nap in his room, but sleep in your room at night. Do that for a couple of months.
Then put his bed in his room, and put him there at night, and have you or your husband sleep in his bedroom on the inflatable for a few weeks. Then, only stay there untill he falls asleep, and go sleep in your own bed.
If he's afraid of monsters, put a nice nightlite and keep some "monster-spray" handy. You can get some rosewater in health food stores or ethnic markets, and you put it in a sprai container with a little water to dilute. If he wants, let him spray the bedroom, closet, and under the bed before he goes to sleep. You can also set a sentinel under the bed (a stuffed animal) that will prevent monsters from coming in.
2006-09-01 07:55:32 · answer #2 · answered by Delphine F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Truthfully for me there wasnt. I had to let her "cry it out" for a while. I was totally against it at first, but found I had no other choice. I did it slowly though an hour first night then I would sit and rock her until she feel asleep and if she got up in the night I would take her in with me. The next I did two hours then three. The next night I let her cry until she feel asleep on her own. She did wake up and cry for small period in the middle of the night. She would go crazy if she saw me so I would peek in and make sure she was OK. I tried other methods, but in the end I had to I would rock her for hours and then take her to bed with me when she finally fell asleep. I wouldnt get to eat dinner and would take the worlds fastest shower LOL. Try different methods every child is different and CIO is very hard I think harder on the parents then kids sometimes. Try laying down beside him for a while. Stay in the room until he falls asleep and each night move farther away until he does it on his own. Good Luck its tough, but you are doing the best thing for him. Be consistant that is the key.
2006-09-01 13:22:57 · answer #3 · answered by brandy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can sleep in his bed with him as suggested but that kind of defeats the purpose. You get up in the middle of the night to return to your bed and he wakes up shortly after that to return to "his" bed also. I assume that it is a single bed that he has? Try laying the his mattress next to your bed for a week and make him sleep on it. After that week, move the mattress to the doorway for a few days. The next step will be the mattress in his bedroom doorway. Eventually you will have him in his room sleeping the entire night. This tried and true. I used it with both of my children and my sister used it with 2 of her children. Oh yea, don't forget the ear plugs because the child will raise the roof with his screaming, crying, begging to return to your bad. Be firm though. Good luck!
2006-09-01 07:14:48 · answer #4 · answered by _Savage_ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start by sleeping in his bed with him for the full night. After he gets comfortable with that wake up in the night time and leave his bedroom. Eventually he should be able to sleep without you in there. Try using a nightlight and keeping the door open.
2006-09-01 07:08:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good Luck! My 8 yr old stills wants to sleep with me. I still have to put her to sleep and then she comes into our bed almost every night. My husband is getting very sick of it. I have tried everything. I must say I don't mind it. I sleep much better with her in the bed. I am hoping that eventually she will not want to sleep with us. I even went to the extreme of putting her on a air mattress on the floor of our room and she still somehow gets into the bed. Well I hope it works for you!
2006-09-01 07:24:24 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There must be a children's book out there that covers this situation. Read it to him. Explain that now that he is a "big" boy, he gets to enjoy sleeping in his own room. Find one of those revolving lamps with low wattage that may lull him to sleep. If he wakes up in the middle of the night, just give him a quick hug and bring him back to his own bed. Keep it up and eventually he will accept it.
2006-09-01 07:13:08 · answer #7 · answered by abracadabragal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had been dealing with the same thing for five years. My daughter would not sleep in her own bed. She would jump in the bed with me middle of the night. This takes time and patience. One day I went to Wal-mart and bought one of the blow up princess beds (looks like a princess castle) and she finally sleeps alone.
2006-09-01 07:49:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but only if you're willing to be tough and consistent about it. Explain the change and give him a 2 wekk transtion period, during which you'll spend some extra time in his room to help him get to sleep - after that he's on his own...he will cry for a few nights, but it has to be done.
2006-09-01 07:38:18 · answer #9 · answered by Clockwork Grape 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unfortunately, it's not going to be easy and he won't understand, so you're just going to have to put him in bed and tell him that you are right across the hall if he needs you.
then, sit down on the floor and stay there until he goes to sleep. then, the next night sit a little further away. then, a little further, etc. until you are at the door. then, leave the room and see how he does. if he gets up, then simply take him back to his room and put him to bed and kiss him goodnight and leave the room.
it's going to be tough, but you can do it and so can he!!!
2006-09-01 07:16:39 · answer #10 · answered by joey322 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋