Got any tips on how to get my 3yr old to sleep in her bed?

Question

I have a 3yr old and a 6 mo old, neither will go to sleep without me at their side or stay asleep unless I'm there!!!! I so want to say.. "It's bed time" and they lay down in their own beds and go to sleep!!!! mainly my 3 yr old,,,, and how do i train my 6 mo old to sleep through the night, he's breastfed and still wakes up ever 2-3 hours to nurse then goes back to sleep?????????

yes , he eats 5 jars of baby food a day and eats baby cereal right before bed... doesnt seem to help???????

Answer 1

Have a nighttime ritual. Give her a bath, have her brush her teeth, read a book or two, get her into bed, turn off the light and make her stay in bed even if she does not go to sleep right away! If needed, add turning on a nightlight to the routine. Have her go to bed at the same time every night and get up about the same time. This will assure that she is tired enough to sleep. If you do this every night and stay firm that these are your expectations and do NOT give in and sleep with her, she will (eventually) accept your terms and will go to sleep as scheduled. This takes time! If you give up, she wins and need I say it? You LOSE!

If your baby is waking up your 3 year old, but a white noise machine to drown out the sounds of the baby.

Six month olds that breast feed sometimes still nurse a lot. Is he getting enough milk? Your doctor can tell you just by his weight. Ask your doctor if this is within the normal range of breastfeeding schedules. Your doctor will have good suggestions to help make your night easier.

Answer 2

The hungry 6 mo old is normal for waking up, breastfed babies eat more often, but there isn't a real easy way to sleep train that early. As far as the 3 yr old - I'm not quite there yet. I just got this book - The Science of Parenting, and it talks quite a bit about the facts behind the emotional development of babies and gives some suggestions on helping your tot sleep through the night.

Answer 3

Here's something that you can try for your 3yr old. Set up a bedtime routine and stick to it. When approaching bedtime, cease all boisterous activities so your child can calm down. Have a warm bath, settle in his or her room for bedtime stories and then tuck the kid into bed, give him or her a goodnight kiss and tell your child it's bedtime so no more moving about or talking. Then tell your child you love him or her and leave the room.

And your child will ask for you or come out of the room. Simply pick the kid up, tell her it's bedtime and tuck the kid back into bed. Do not engage the child in conversation. You can repeat the "I love you" and kiss and then leave the room.

This will take a few days to two weeks but eventually, if you stick to this, you child will get the routine, feel happy about it and sleep in his or her own room.

As for your 6mo old, you just have to be patient. Do not put the baby with the 3yr old at this stage because you will sabotage the 3yr old's routine. You may have to work on the 3yr old first. You can try a similar routine with the 6mo old in your room first. The key thing is not to pick up the baby as soon as it makes noise. Let the baby try to settle itself. And if you do, don't talk, just pat the baby back to sleep.

When you have the 3yr old in a routine and the baby is good to sleep through the night, you can try putting the baby with the toddler. Good luck!

Answer 4

Don't let your six month old cry himself to sleep! This practice is very damaging to children. They need to know that you will be there for them when they cry. Try setting up a "Big boy bed (or girl) for your 3 year old. Have him come shopping with you and pick out some really cool sheets that he loves. Put his favorite toys in bed and say "they want you to sleep with them!" Continue to suggest to your child that he sleep in his own bed, but don't force the issue or force your child to sleep alone. Sleeping alone can be very scary for a child, and you need to protect his emotional health. You'll look back on all this fondly some day! As for the 6 month old, I believe that babies that age DO need to nurse at night. just try to enjoy it while it lasts. Bring your 6 month old to bed so all you have to do is roll over to nurse. Above all, cherish and be gentle and loving to your children! Please!

Answer 5

I don't really think there is any magic way to get them to sleep in their own bed. My niece is 11 and still sleeps with my sister. That scared me enough that I never let my kids sleep with me(other when they are sick or scared) because I didn't want to end up having permanent bed partners other than my hubby. I think now that he/she is 3 it will be really hard. As for your 6 month old...he is still young, so I would say to get him into the crib ASAP! That will probably eventually stop him from getting up so much at night to breastfeed also.

Good luck...I hope to you can figure it out. :)

Answer 6

6 month old babies do not know your rules. you have to obey theirs.
Since he is 6months and over see if you can give him addl nourishment like cereal fruit food meant for babies during the night meal preferably by 8 PM. give him regular feed / milk any time he wants. Chances are that he will sleep for longer hours.
Next you have to train yourself to sleep when he sleeps and be awake to play with him when he is awake...see if you can get some help for the 3yr old....

Answer 7

flat out bribe the 3 year old. she only does this because she sees it manipulates you... whether or not you feel she is old enough to be that smart, she really is.

the secret is that you have to put up with the week of tears and hours of fit throwing. break down and dicipline the child the old fashioned way (gasp! did that woman suggest I spank my child? yes I did!)

It is for your own good to do it as soon as possible. yes, everyonewill be tired and cranky but mommy will have her space back. (and by the way- your six month old is taking the 3yo's lead. focus on the 3yo, the 6mo old will follow, too.)

Answer 8

my 4 year old daughter started sleeping on her bedroom when she was 3 it wasn't easy she would come to my bed in the middle of the night one time i found her sleeping in the rest room, what i did i put movies on her TV and toughed her hoe to change them and it worked i would ask her to sleep on my bed and she would say no she stayed up until really late i let her so at least she could get used to sleep on her own room then when she was used to i send her to bed early her sister was a year old and it wasn't HARD THEY SLEPT ON THE SAME ROOM I PUT HER ON THE PACK AND PLAY SHE CRY ED AT FIRTS I LET HER CRY is not going to be easy but dont feel bad theyll stop crying eventually and get used to it thats what worked for my, i hope it helps.

Answer 9

Shouldn't your six month old be on rice cereal? Try feeding right before bed to fill the tummy. Happy tummy = sleepy baby.

Answer 10

To get them to sleep in their own bed will take some work, so set aside a whole night, and start way before you need to go to bed.

Put them in bed, and walk away. The 6 month old will eventually cry itself to sleep. The 3 year old will get up. Put her back to bed. When she gets up again, put her back to bed. Eventually she will either tire of this, or understand that you are not letting her sleep with you.

My question is why parents let their kids sleep in their beds to begin with. If you put your child into your bed, it will expect to sleep in your bed. If you put your child in their own bed, starting with their crib, and walk out of the room and let them cry themselves to sleep, they will learn to sleep by themselves.