how do i get my 3yr old to sleep in his own bed and not ours?

Question

he wants to sleep with us and not in his own bed as he thinks there is monsters in there

Answer 1

Fill a spray bottle with water and glitter and then you can patrol together at bedtime with the anti monster spray. Or how about putting a toy under the bed or in a dark corner who can be in charge of scaring monsters if any dare to set foot in his room? Failing that, a night light might be a good idea so that furniture in the room doesn't start to take on scary shapes if he wakes up. Or how about a reward chart? It's amazing the power a few stickers has over a three year old. My daughter had the same problem so I told her that she would get a sticker for every night she stayed in her own bed and that for every ten stickers she would get a little present. They were little things like a comic or a Ladybird book, but they did the trick. And it helped her learn to count up to 40 when she got a bigger present of Barbie outfit. I told her at 40 that it would stop because monsters never came into your room when you were grown up and could count to 40. Seems to have worked, touch wood...

Answer 2

We have the dog do a monster check every night. So far, the dog just walks around the room looking confused lol.

Then be firm. Every time he gets into bed with you, return him to his own bed. You'll probably have to do this 1000 times lol, so be prepared for a few nights of no sleep for you and spouse.

Oh, since he's probably still in the land of "make believe is real", give him a flashlight with "monster killer beams" to use in case he thinks one is on to him.

Don't tell him there are no monsters, tell him monsters don't come to your house because they are scared of 1) Daddy, because he's so big and strong, 2) the dog because he'll bite the monsters, or 3) Mommy because she'll give them a spanking, tell their mommy and take away their monster kibbles for an entire week.

Answer 3

Have him do a "monster patrol" just before bedtime. put his bed on the floor, that way no "monsters" can hide under the bed. Make sure that all "humanistic" dolls and toys are put away because in the dark they look scary. Shut all closet doors, (you can even do an "incantation/spell" that will keep the monsters from being able to open the closet door and come out), or you can tell him that the only monsters that will visit him will be Vin and Sully from Monster's Inc...

Answer 4

According to my two year old daughter, all real monsters live in Kentucky, we live in Tennessee. Only pretend monsters are allowed in Tennessee, the Police won't let them in. Also there are bears in Kentucky and bears think that Monsters are delicious, very good to eat. My daughter no longer has any problems with monsters. as for the sleeping in her own bed, my wife and I read her a story every night, she picks the story and whether she gets one or two stories. My wife and I make it very fun, but then when we say we're done, she gets to choose whether Mommy tuck-tucks, or Daddy tuck-tucks. We have not had a problem with her sleeping in her own bed unless she is sick. We also made her crib into a toddler bed, she thinks its great that she can get out of bed by herself and come wake up Daddy in the mornings.

Answer 5

Not to be mean but you can try putting a gate at his door so he can't get out and try a nightlight and leave the door open with a hall or bathroom light on. And when he goes to bed show him that there are no monsters with the light on and off, also try giving him a flashlight so that he can look and you both look together, and try leaving the closet or any other doors in his room open so he knows that there are none and just do a monster check with him before he goes to bed every night until he knows that there are no monsters.

Answer 6

Get him a night light. A friend of mine got her daughter a small spray bottle and put in it some lavender oil drops and mixed with water and put a label on it saying Monster repellent spray. Every night she would go around her room and spray under her bed and her closet or where ever she thought a monster would hide in her room. My friend told her daughter that monsters do not like the smell of Lavender so it will keep them away. The bonus of the lavender is to help your son sleep cause it is a calming smell. Try doing that and hope it works as well for you as it did for my friend! GOOD LUCK!

Answer 7

I am not sure, but when you get the answer let me know. My daughter does the same thing. She has slept in her bed every day of her life til bout 6 months ago. She continues to get up in the middle of the night and sleep on the couch, in our bed or makes a pallat on our floor. Night lights dont work, and letting her sleep with her brother now and again dont work either. She ALWAYS ends up in our room or on the couch... saying there are monsters in her room also, you arent alone, trust me.

Answer 8

oh i sympathise....we have a similar problem and im shattered! i think you have to do whatever your heart tells you and whatever you can manager....all this leaving to cry business isnt for everyone!
my daughter is 2 years 1 month and has only slept through in her own bed about 12 times in all her life! at the moment she goes down in her own bed and then she wakes anything from 10pm to 2pm and will not go into her own bed it has to be mine or she just stays awake. i never geta proper nights sleep and im too tired to stay up each night getting her to stay in her own bed - i work long hours so its far easier to let her in my bed - i have made a rod for my own back but sometimes you just have to do whatever it takes. i will soon (i hope) get some sleep and feel strong enough to keep taking her back to her room no matter what and break this habit! wish me luck and i'll wish you luck!

Answer 9

Let him in your bed for stories and cuddles, then go scare the monsters away in his room. If he comes into your room at night, take him back to his own bed and scare the monsters away again - only do this once though! If he gets out of bed again, take him back to bed and say 'its bedtime now'. If it happens again, take him back and don't say anything. It'll take about 2 weeks and it will be hard, but he'll soon get the idea.
Good luck!

Answer 10

Get him an attractive bed (Schumi's ferrari style bed wont hurt) and try soothing his worst fears about sleeping alone. Seems he either suffers from separation anxiety or is worried about monsters under his bed or something.

Try putting him to sleep in his bed and then going off to sleep yourself.