2007-03-06 02:19:24 · 9 answers · asked by noemimrt 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I remember those sleepless nights! It can be very frustrating for Mommy & Daddy to be woken up in the middle of the night when your little angle climbs into your bed and then proceeds to toss and turn.
When my daughter started this phase, I got up and walked her back to her bed each and every time she came into my room. Consistancy is the key. It is hard to hear the crying and fussing, but if you stick with it she'll learn that this is one thing you are not going to budge on.
We also picked out pretty sheets, pillows and animals. We repainted her room so it wasn't the nursery anymore. Now she has a big girl room with a big girl bed. We reinforced her not coming into our room with a "Link" system. I cut strips of construction paper and each night she stayed in bed we added a link to the chain, which was hung over her bed. After 3 or 4 links were added she got a trip to the Dollar Tree to pick out a toy. She would wake up and see the chain then make a conscious decision as to get out of bed and lose a link or stay and get rewarded for it. Each 30 links (one month) she'd get to go to Toys R Us.
It is a phase, but how long it lasts is up to you.
Good luck and happy sleeping!
2007-03-06 02:44:37 · answer #1 · answered by d f 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Will she not sleep in her own bed because she's used to sleeping in your bed? Is there something in her room that scares her? Ask her why she won't sleep in her own bed. If it's because it isn't Mommy's bed, then it's a case of her trying to continue sleeping with you. Put her into her own bed, read her a story, then leave her be. Do NOT keep going back in to her room everytime she cries or she'll learn that that is a good way to get your attention. Once you decide to keep her in her own bed, leave her there. Don't bring her back to your bed. It's going to mean a few sleepless nights, but it'll work out.
2007-03-06 10:27:02 · answer #2 · answered by Paula S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ah yes....... my kids (pretty much all four of them) went through this. My youngest just went through this (she recently turned four). What I did with ALL of them is .... I talked about how great their bed is. How wonderful they will sleep and I would lay in their beds and tell them I sure wish that was my bed because it is soooo comfy! I would get them a comforter with their favorite character (for example ....Barbie or Snow White, etc) and wash everything so it smells really nice. When the time came for bedtime, I would tuck them in, read a story and rub their head or back for a litlte bit until they got drowsy and tell them to dream about warm sunshine, running through the grass barefoot, picnics, etc. and I would constantly tell them how lucky they were to have such an awesome bed! I also would tell them what a big girl/boy they are!!
My daughter sleeps really great in her bed. On occasion she will wake up in the middle of the night and climb in with us, but it does not happen very often and soon she will be too old to climb in with us. We are enjoying her being little as much as we can! They grow up so fast. Sigh.
2007-03-06 10:35:12 · answer #3 · answered by blueyonder 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter is now 3yo. Until she learned that she needed to stay in her big girl room, we had a baby gate at her bedroom door. It let the room still seem open (better than a closed door), let some light in, she could call to us if she needed us for something, etc.
Also, I switched her to her bed at 18m (w/a gate) when she could walk well on her own. We took her to the store and she picked out her own bed, sheets, comforter, pillow, extra blanket, etc. It made her feel like a big girl! Perhaps you could take her and let her pick something out - a special decorated pillow maybe - to make her feel like a big girl.
I'm a big fan of positive reinforcement, so if she spends all night in her bed (or at least in her room to start), make a big deal about how she is a big girl. Get her a calendar and fill it with gold stars for every night she stays in her bed!
Good luck!!
2007-03-06 10:33:44 · answer #4 · answered by Mommy of 2 Girls 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take her to the store to ick out some pretty sheets, a cool stuffed animal, or a big girl pillow for her room. Help her decorate it, telling her she's a "grown up!" Then, what you can do is spend time with her in her room during her before-bedtime routine, read her a book, play some soft music. Leave a lamp, nightlight, or closet light on for comfort. She should feel grown up in her new room.
2007-03-06 10:25:04 · answer #5 · answered by Sirius's Mommy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to her about it. You might have to ask a lot of questions before discovering the problem. But you can't solve the problem without knowing the cause. At that age, my son was scared of being by himself. He has a fish to keep him company now.
2007-03-06 10:31:15 · answer #6 · answered by eebrs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't give her a choice-she will be over it soon enough-she is just testing you to see if you will give in to her and give her want she wants-she is old enough to know she needs to sleep in her bed have a talk with her make her feel like a big girl-good luck
2007-03-06 10:29:39 · answer #7 · answered by ♥fungirl♥ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take her with you to pick out new sheets and blankets for her bed. Let her pick them out. When I went through this with my son, all it took was spiderman sheets and he went willingly after that (most nights).
2007-03-06 10:25:29 · answer #8 · answered by Lesley M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just a period that she's going through, it'll pass. Be patient but firm!
2007-03-06 10:23:51 · answer #9 · answered by Rosette H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋