Any ideas on how to get a three year old to sleep in their own bed?

Question

My daughter is 3 and she used to sleep alone. She is going through a complex where she needs to be with me constantly. I can't even hardly go to the bathroom alone anymore. She will not sleep in her bed. If by chance she does - it is only for a couple of hours and she is down the hall to me.

Answer 1

put her in her bed after she falls asleep.Or stay with her in her bedroom read her a book while she lays in her bed.One thing is put a tv in her room let her watch it and shell fall asleep watching it!

Answer 2

I had to do the sitting by the bed thing and then increasing the distance for awhile too. That only worked for a short time. The only thing that worked for us was letting him cry himself to sleep. It was horrible to me and I would've given in if it hadn't been for my husband. It only took a couple of nights and each night the crying lasted shorter amounts of time. My son is now 4 and he falls asleep in his own bed but still wanders into my bed most nights. Most of the time I don't even know he's gotten in there until I wake up in the morning. It's not really an issue because my husband works 3rd shift but, on the nights he is home it's rough. I figure if he needs to be with us to sleep well than so be it. I know a lot of people disagree but, I just do what feels right to us and that's all you can do.

Answer 3

I watched this on a TV show called "The Nanny", She fixed it by putting the child back in her own bed, then sitting next to the bed, then the next nite, she put her back to bed and sat in the door way, then after a coupld of nites, she sat in the hall way outside the room. Each time she was very firm and put the child back into her bed. It worked. Good luck and God bless you.
I think I would be concerned something has spooked her in the bedroom and maybe you should ask her what her fear is.
I am not trying to insinuate anything, but my best friend in elementary school was being molested by her uncle at nite and she was afraid to stay in her own bed. No one would listen to her. She is still tormented and is 42 yrs old. Same as me.

Answer 4

Many people do not agree with my method and will say put them right back in their bed. I didn't I used to put a gait up so if my children woke up they would come into my room and get into my bed to sleep. we would cuddle and go back to sleep I perferred they got a good night sleep instead of being scared. Eventually, they stopped coming in, but during their scared times of needing mommy, being scared if mommy is going to come home or is she going to die, is she there, they were able to come in and get a good nights sleep.

If this does not work for you, I would say reassure her that you are there, cuddle her and into bed, stand close by but do not say anything, if she gets out of bed put her back in bed, stay where she can see you but don't say anything, continue this until she goes to sleep, the next night will be a little easier each night and take less time. I would also move a little further away from the door each night. Good luck. Happy holidays.

Answer 5

My sister went through this and it was a complex. At night when she comes to you, take her right back to bed and explain to her why she needs to sleep in her own bed. If the excuses start, such as her needing water, a blanket, or you, just take her back to bed. After this has gone on for a week if she still is having an issue, you need to have tough love. Spend one night with your door locked. I know it will kill you to have to listen to her yell and cry for you but it is for the best. I remember that night when my mom finally did that to my sister. And the next night my sister actually went right to sleep in her bed.

Answer 6

Well my first son started off in the bed with me...BIG MISTAKE... What I did that worked great was, I sat next to him in the bed the first night until he fell asleep. The next night it was at the head of his bed and I struggled with the crying. Then it was by the door. The last step was by himself. He cried a lot but I didn't give in and it worked. Stretch the days out over about a week.

Answer 7

The key in this situation is to determine what function the behavior of coming to you when she should be in her own bed serves. One step is to put her back in her own bed, don't talk to her, don't hold her, don't interact with her. Don't give her any reinforcing attention at all. I realize this is very difficult especially for a parent. You will probably see an increase in the frequency of her getting out of her bed at first, but given enough time, she will stay in her room. Additionally, a consistent bedtime routine is very helpful. Also, try to make it rewarding for her to stay in her own bed, for example when she gets up in the morning and has stayed in her own bed (or has only come out a specified number of times) have a little "you stayed in your own bed party" dance around, tell her stuffed animals, call grandparents (if possible) whatever it takes to make her feel prous of staying in her own bed. Night lights are a good idea, I gave my son "monster spray" (water in a spray bottle) to scare monsters off with.

Answer 8

keep taking her back to her bed and explain she sleeps there..mine did this for a bit,we would find her next to our bed on the floor....make sure she has a night light if the room is too dark and a couple of her favorite lovies with her,mine has a boatload of stuffed animals with her every night...i do not believe in having a tv in a bedroom

Answer 9

Consistency is definitely the key. It is difficult to stick to your guns when you are tired of the same routine failing and you feel bad for making your child upset but the only way to change her behavior is to maintain your goals and limit the amount of control she has on changing it. Wouldn't you keep trying to get what you wanted if you found a way to get it once? Whatever methods you undertake, keep doing it and don't waver- only you know what will work best for your daughter.

She will change! It takes 21 days to change a child's behavior. Be patient and envision the payoff of your consistent actions....

Good luck!

Answer 10

I f you want that to happen u have to be patient taking her again and again to her bed and no talking till she will stop in her bed and sleep most probaly will four days taking and of course a lot of tears from her but still u have to be patient and hundred percent she will get use.whenever she follows u just put her back to her bed agen and agen till she or he fell asleep.

Answer 11

Keep putting her back. No words, no hugs, no kisses, just take her back to her room and put her back to bed. She will keep getting out repeatedly, but you have to keep doing it. After a week or so, she will stop. It may also help with the rest of the day.