My son doesn't like his bed??

Question

I have a problem with my son, he does not like to sleep in his own bed. When he was a baby he always slept in the same bed as me, now I can't get him to sleep in his own bed.

Answer 1

Your are gonna have a fight on your hands. My son has always slept in his crib, but I have on occassion allowed him to sleep with me. I have learned not to do it anymore under any circumstances, and that includes vacations in hotels. I would let me son pick a pillow or something else off the bed to take with him into his own bed. If he comes to your bed in the middle of the night, just take him back to his own bed. The more consistent you are with this, the faster he will be able to make the transition.

My son likes to sleep with a stuffed bear, which is almost as big as he is. It helps him to feel comforted and not alone when he is asleep. Your son may cry on occassion and yell and scream and throw tantrums. When he does you still have to insist that he sleep in his own bed. It is hard to do, but it is important. You will be able to get some real rest and have some adult time to yourself once he is settled into his own room.

Answer 2

It's not that he doesn't like his bed, it's that he likes sleeping with mommy. You taught him that it was OK, & now it's up to you to change that.
Sit down with him just before bed time, & explain that he's going to sleep in his own bed tonight. He'll fight you over this, but if you give in just once then you will lose.
Create a bedtime ritual that rewards good bedtime behaviour.
For example, if he goes to his own bed without any protest or tricks, then you'll read him his favourite bedtime story.
For the 1st few nights, after the story is finished, turn out the light, kiss him goodnight, & leave the room, with the resolve that from here on in you will NOT say another word to him until he wakes up in the morning.
Close the door slightly, & monitor his room closely because it's almost guaranteed that he will follow you out of the room.
If he does, then silently take him by the hand & promptly tuck him back into his own bed, & then plunk yourself into a chair or on the floor a few feet from the bed, & DO NOT LOOK AT HIM.
If he gets up, then without a word take him back in & tuck him in again, & repeat this as much as necessary. If you talk to him or offer a 2nd kiss goodnight then he will feel rewarded for having gotten up, & he will feel better about getting up some more.
If he shows frustration or emotion, DO NOT RESPOND IN KIND. Stay cool, don't speak to him, you are going to win the battle. If you speak or engage him after the 1st goodnight you are going to be taking backward steps & prolong the exercise.

The next night, you will have to be ready to do it again, but it will take less & less dedication, & soon you will be living with a child who goes to bed without a fuss. Teach this tecnique to your husband, so that he can alternately take over for you. But only alternate by nights, not by excursions back to bed. Once you have started the nightly ritual then it's best if you finish it to the end. Your husband can have a turn the next night.

The object is to teach your child who is in charge. Until now you have taught him that with the right amount of fuss, he can bend you to his will. By using the above method, you are teaching him who is in charge, & that at least on this one issue, there is nothing he can do to change your mind, or even to affect you.

I've seen this work.

Answer 3

I know the feeling. My children always ended up in bed with me too so I could sleep.( I have 7)
Anyhow- usually by age of 4 I was able to get them in their own bed - I would let them know that soon they would be going to kindergarden and they would have to sleep in their own beds cos only babies slept with mommy every night and babies can't go to big school. I would take them shopping and we picked out new blankets
and pillows and a special night time teddy bear. To start tell him you are sleeping in his bed and that he can sleep in your bed all by himself. He will be right in there with you. Once he falls asleep you can sneak out and into your own bed. Eventually he will get use to being in his own bed.

Answer 4

Start by having him sleep in his toddler bed during naps. Put the bed next to your bed at first. Once he has stayed the night a couple times in his bed. Move it a few feet away. Do this every few days until he has reached the other side of your room. Once this has happened try putting him into his own room. Rotate a pillow from your bed to his. This way he always has your scent on his bed. Be patient and it take a little time and practice.

I also made my daughters beds (3 of them) more comfortable by placing a piece of the foam cushion they sell at wal-mart on their bed. I put it under a zip on mattress cover.

Answer 5

i went threw the same thing. start him out sleeping on the floor beside your bed for 3 or 4 days then move him into the living room floor not couch thats to comfortable he will want to stay there. give him excuses why hes on the floor like mommy needs all the bed space she can get because your legs are cramping,,, anything just be smart with what you say.slowly keep moving him towards his room then finally youask him wouldnt your bed be more comfy than that floor. and that usually takes 2 weeks to have them in their own bed. good luck

Answer 6

my daughter was the same way. what i did was put my bedding on her's and when i said i was ready to go to bed i went to her bed she climed in beside me and i slept with her until i knew she was fully asleep and went into my own. the next night i did it again. i started to put her bedding on her bed one thing at a time and within a week i had my stuff back and she was sleeping in her bed. i think tricking her worked great for both of us. she now loves her bed. and i get my bed all to myself..

Answer 7

i am having the same problem it definitely isn't easy!! first he had a toddler bed but hated it so my advice to you is to get him a normal twin bed. then i would transfer him to his own bed after he fell asleep in mine. also, establish a bedtime routine, like bath, bednite snack, brush teeth, then we get all his animals and get in his bed together. we read two stories with a flashlight; he shines it on the book while i read it, (if you don't have it, i recommend I Love You StinkyFace, its an awesome book) and after our stories are done we do kisses and cuddle for a bit till he's asleep. my next step was to leave him with the flashlight so he could read on his own for a bit, and it seems to be working!! but it may take a month or so cause you don't want to scare him about bein on his own in bed....good luck darlin'

Answer 8

Okay. I have two options that I can think up of on the spot.

1) Let him sleep in your bed, and when he's asleep, transfer him to his own bed without waking him up, or
2) Before his bedtime, take him for a LONG walk, so when he comes home, he's all tired, and will (hopefully) go straight to sleep with no concern over the bed.

Answer 9

We had the same problem. We borrowed books on cds that he could only listen to in his own bed. It did not take long for him to run to bed at night.He is nine now and still listens to them when he goes to bed..

Answer 10

it's hard to break them when they are used to sleeping in the bed with you!! I would lay down with him in his bed until he fell asleep or allowed him to sleep with me until he fell asleep and then put him in his own bed!! Try to get him to like his room and even try reading a book to him before he goes to bed to see if that works!!! Some parents put a tv in their child's room and let them watch cartoons until they fall asleep!!