How do you teach a 5 yr old to sleep in his own bed??
I've made the mistake of letting my 5 yr old sleep with us since he was born....I realize my stupid mistake now, so spare me the "I told you so's". We have bought him a twin bed and can't get him to sleep in it all night. I have to go in and wait for him to go to sleep, then sneak out to my own bed. He wakes up inevitably at some point in the night and cries for me, at which I have to go back in there and start all over. Not getting much sleep. Help? Anyone else go thru this? Any advice would be appreciated.
2007-02-07 14:40:33 · 7 answers · asked by Icebluegem 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
It sucks! You have to let them cry. You have to stick to your guns, and NOT get into bed with them, and NOT let them manipulate you. It's one of the hardest things I ever did! Dr. Phil had a great show on about how at first you sit beside them in their room until they fall asleep, then each night you get farther and farther away until you're out the door. But they do have to cry. You'll have to go back in and keep doing what you're doing. If you're consistent...Dr. Phil said it would only take 4-8 days, and my little girl was fine by the 6th night...so right on schedule. You're doing good, hang in there, and maybe check out Dr. Phil's site...he might have it on there.
2007-02-07 14:46:04 · answer #1 · answered by claireandmouse 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes! I did the same thing, but I was not stupid for making the choice. The family bed is great!!
The only thing that would work with getting my son to sleep all night in his own room was a reward system. I did stars. For every 5 stars he earned he got to do something cool. Like watch a movie of his at night past his normal bedtime on the weekend or an ice cream cone from DQ. Small stuff at first. Then I made the rewards a little bigger for more than 5 days and so on. I do have to still keep the closet light on and the bathroom light on. He's 7 now and sleeps most nights in his own bed, except when he is sick.
Some other ideas are to take him outside and let him play in the colder air, he will use up a lot of his stored energy. Creating a more sleepy feeling for him. If you give him 1/2 of a banana 30 min before bed-time he will most likely sleep all night.
You might even have to have a hallway light and the closet light on. When they wake up and there is no light in the room, they freak out!
Good Luck - Hope this helps!
2007-02-07 14:49:43 · answer #2 · answered by ebay_convert 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you act like sleeping in his bed is a great thing. Don't make him feel like he is being kicked out. If he feels like you are upset or trying to get him out he will resist. Just keep on talking about how lucky he is to have his very own bed and that it is so nice and comfortable.
2007-02-07 14:49:55 · answer #3 · answered by flirl1027 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just let him fall asleep with you then put him in his bed, my son is 21 months and we barely started putting him on his bed a month ago and now he just goes to his bed then falls asleep...i hope you get some sleep real soon because it really sucks to not get any rest!!
2007-02-07 14:48:06 · answer #4 · answered by jessica p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
MAYBE HE NEEDS A STUFFED ANIMAL WITH HIM. HOW ABOUT A NIGHT LIGHT, OR SOFT MUSIC, OR POSSIBLY IF YOU USHER HIM BACK TO HIS TWIN BED AND LIE IN IT WITH HIM TILL HE SLEEPS . THERE IS A BOOK ON THAT PROBLEM AT THE LOCAL LIBRARY MOST LIKELY. DO WELL! !
2007-02-07 15:33:58 · answer #5 · answered by woolly worm 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem with my 4 and a half year old. Whenever he would come in with us, we would just bring him back to his room. It was a tough ride but it did work. Good Luck.
2007-02-07 14:46:52 · answer #6 · answered by beaner 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is called consistency. It is NOT going to happen over night. It will probably take you a few weeks at least to accomplish it...You start a bedtime ritual same time every single night. Pjs, teeth brushed, potty, story, lights out. When he gets up (and yes he will) you take him back to his bed. When he gets up again (and yes he will) you take him back to his bed. When he gets up again (and yes he will) you take him back to his bed. When he gets up again (and yes he will) you take him back to his bed. When he gets up again (and yes he will) you take him back to his bed. When he gets up again (and yes he will) you take him back to his bed. When he gets up again (and yes he will) you take him back to his bed. When he gets up again (and yes he will) you take him back to his bed. When he gets up again (and yes he will) you take him back to his bed.
Over and over until he figures out that he is to stay in his own bed.
2007-02-07 18:21:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋