How can I get my 5 yr. old daughter to sleep in her own bed?

Question

She will sleep on a cot in our room, but refuses to sleep in her own room and her own bed. And when she has a bad dream or is sick she tends to sleep with us.

Answer 1

make her room a fun place- DONT send her there when she is in trouble. and get PLENTY of nightlights. she is probably more scared to "wake" up alone rather than go to bed alone. hope this helps.

Answer 2

First make sure there isn't a physical reason she is waking up- my 6 yr old was sleeping solo until winter came. The cold would wake her up and in she'd come. I added a blanket and she's back to sleeping solo.

Try to talk to her when it's not close to bedtime and ask her about her room- is there something that is scary to her? My oldest was afraid of his room at night because the shadow of the neighbor's tree looked like Jafar from Aladdin. You just never know until you ask.

If there's nothing physically that is waking her up, and nothing in her room that is scary, then it's just a matter of breaking the habbit. Remember, to do this you must be firm, loving, and consistant. Talk about it with her during the day. Let her know that you love her and want to be with her during the day, but that at night she needs to sleep in her own bed. At bedtime, spend some time getting ready- having a set routine is a big help in preparing them- maybe bath, toilet, teeth and story. When it's time to sleep, tuck her in and leave. When she comes out, take her back, hug her, and leave. Every time. If you give in once, you set yourself back. Praise her for going to sleep, and for staying in her own room whenever possible. Offer a reward for a certain number of nights spent in her own room- start off with a small treat for one night, then increase the number of nights and up the reward-it doesn't have to be expensive, maybe a sleepover at a friend or relative's house? If all else fails, lock your door at night. Good luck, and know that no grown children still sleep with their parents, so this too will pass- eventually.

Answer 3

I remember sleeping with my mother until I was 12...And every now and then, even though I'm 24, I will sometimes curl up in bed with her. But I would try getting a kids tent...Dora the explorer something fun like that. Maybe even a flash light. Put it in her room and try and start there. It might make her feel safe and it's fun. Then just work your way up if it works. Also what I did with my niece is I would sit on the side of her bed, not in it, until she feel asleep. That worked most of the time. Good Luck!

Answer 4

We've gone through this with our 7-year-old. It's so hard because of course we love our kids and want to cuddle and comfort, yet sleeping together every night isn't good either.

We gradually "weaned" her by making it a rule that she can only sleep with us every other night - every other night she had to stay in her bed. Midway through the night she would crawl into bed with us, but it was a start.

Then we made it a rule that she couldn't sleep with us on school nights. Next we told her when she was in her bed she had to stay there all night.

She still sleeps with us when she is sick. I also feel it's very important to comfort her when she has a bad dream. So, I cuddle with her, rub her back for 5 minutes and then tuck her in her bed.

My husband and I have our bed back 5 nights a week. She still sleeps with us on Friday and Saturday nights and we enjoy the special cuddle time.

Make sure you have a good night light in her room and keep her bedroom door open - that will make her feel more secure. We also have a Sleepmate in her room, which creates "white noise" and helps her sleep better.

Answer 5

First I would out if there is a reason she doesn't like her room..
I used a body pillow to get my daughter to sleep in her own bed. Move the cot into her room maybe she doesn't like her mattress.

Answer 6

Spoiling your kids only makes it hard on them and you!
Explain to her she has to sleep in her own bed from now on. Get rid of the cot, quit giving in and keep putting her back in her own bed over and over till she stays there. Say your good nights and then say nothing more to her, just keep putting her back in bed. If you give in, you will only make it worse! The first night or two will be hard, but if you keep it up it wil get easier and finally work! Don't start a new habbit, by staying in there with her, or it could take hours, you being in there to get her to sleep!

Answer 7

I'm having the same issue with my 4-year-old son ... I make sure we spend a lot of time in his room playing so that it's not just a punishment when he has to go in there ("Go to your room!"). I'm also incorporating a prize system, little things I picked up at the dollar store ... if he sleeps in his room all night for 5 days, he gets a prize. This worked really well for potty-training, too. Good luck!

Answer 8

It is really a comfort and security thing. My daughter slept with me til she was 6, and I was weaning her off my bed for 2 years. So, I started cuddle time. Every night before bed, I would lay in her bed, next to her for half hour or so and read a story, rub her back, and make her comfy. Then, I would tell her, okay Ken, I have things to do, but I will check on you in 10 min. And trust me, she would hold me to it! Then I would hug and kiss her again, and say, okay, now 15 min. and so on. Eventually she fell asleep. She would still wake up and I would walk her back to bed immediately, and rub her back for a while til she was tired. It takes time, but will work if you are just as persistent about making her sleep in her bed, as she wants to sleep in yours. Good luck!

Answer 9

Let her sleep on the cot for a few more weeks, but every night inch it closer and closer to her room. Soon enough, she won't even tell the difference of a few feet and you can drag it right on into her own room and she'll hardly notice. I did this with my kid (no joke) and it actually worked, very well too.

Answer 10

I had the same problem with my four year old . I would keep praising her that she is a big girl. I put a night light her room and
stayed in her room until she went to sleep.she would get up in the night but, I would still put her back in her room and tell her that she can't sleep with me she would cry but after awhile of this same pattern it finally worked.

Answer 11

I have a 5 yr. old son who wants to sleep in mom and dad's bed. I've been telling him that he is getting too big to sleep in our bed, he has a nightlight, and I tell him I will check on him every so often. When I do check on him, he tries asking me lots of questions so I'll stay in his doorway, but I just explain to him that Mom needs to sleep too and I'll be back in a couple min. to check again. He was sneaking in our bed quite a bit and I was just putting it off, but now I tell him to get back in his own bed or I will take him to his bed and tuck him in and leave. Sometimes he cries himself to sleep and other nights are fine. I just think you need to be consistent. Don't give in once you start or you'll have to start all over again.