Sleeping Problems.?

Question

My son is three years old he will be four in November. He has been sleeping in his room but he does not sleep in his room for the entire night. If he wakes up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom instead of going back to his bed he comes to my bed. I usually don't notice that he's there unless i myself wake up or in the morning when I wake up. I've been trying to tell him that when he wakes up at night for him to go back to his room and still he doesn't. Ive tried everything from leavin the hall light on to leaving the lights in his room on and putting night lights in his room nothing works. Please give me ideas or tell me if i'm doing something wrong.

Answer 1

the only way you can fix this is to become more vulnerable to knowing when he comes in your room. I have a 4 year old that does this, and i get out of bed and hold her hand and walk back to her room. Then I tuck her in all over again and she will go back to sleep. But you need to fix this now or he will learn that it is OK. Then you will have a bigger problem.

here is other moms talking about it on babycenter.com

http://www.babycenter.com/dilemma/toddler/toddlersleep/14384.html


ALSO I DISAGREE WITH THE DOOR LOCKING THING:: I think that if your baby has a nightmare or something then they can not get to you for comfort and that can cause big problems. I think that locking a child out of your room will result in the thought that mommy does not care. Also what if they wake up crying?? Then you won't even be able to hear them, and what if someone breaks in and is hurting your baby? No crying, you won't be able to hear this. Mabey i am over protective, but it is better than having something bad happen to my kids.

Answer 2

Why is he getting up to use the bathroom? I'd look into that because by 3 years old kids should be able to hold it until morning. He might have a bladder problem or he could just be waking up on purpose just to sleep with you in your bed. When you go to bed, shut your door. Keep it locked so he can't get in. When he realizes that he can't get into mom's room then he'll just go back to his bed. Or, he might bang on the door and if he does then wake up and walk him to his room and tell him he is sleeping in HIS bed. Don't give in--just be persistant and make him sleep in his own room.

Answer 3

Often children do this and they can't help it. Many times when they get up in the night they are really still asleep and they don't know what they are doing. The only way to change it is for you to be aware of it and wake up and walk him back to his room. Eventually he will learn the pattern.

Answer 4

I wouldn't lock him out. Maybe a baby gate? Tell him he can look in and see you're there before he goes back to bed. He'll either realize he can't come in and go to his room no problem or get really mad. But it wouldn't hurt to try. I think he'd feel better being able to check in though. Good luck

Answer 5

Have you asked him why he goes into your bed? Make sure he realizes that he needs to sleep in his own bed. Does your room have a lock? You can try locking your door for a few nights until he stops sneaking into your bed.

Answer 6

yeah, i agree with the first two comments, you should try locking your door, if you havent tried it already. Stand up for yourself and tell him NO. If your not doing anything now, he'll keep doing it. I know people whose kids still sleep in their bed at age 5. So i f you dont do anything now, he may not break that habit

Answer 7

well you keep telling him that he will continued doing it. he's old enough to sleep in his own bed. what you needed to do is teach him how to sleep in his own room. stop trying to be nice