How can I keep my two small kids in their own beds at night?

Question

2 boys, 5 & 3, used to slepp in their room all night--one had pneumonia, so slept w/me a couple of nights, the other came in, and 2 little monsters were born! They don't even want to read bedtime stories in their room! I'm exhausted, my back aches, and I need these kids out of my bed! Help!

Answer 1

Alright so Ive been there, my son at the time was 3 when we sold our home and moved in with my parents. He was always good at sleeping alone until then when he started sleeping with us. When we bought our new place a few months later he would NOT get out of our bed. after a couple yars I told him I as going to tell the boys on his t-ball team and he dropped our bed like nothing at all. It was easy.

Our youngest, is 3 now and decided to start getting in bed with us every night for about a week. I finally just made him go cry it out. It was horrible for 4 days but then he decided he was ok with it I guess and it was never an issue again. A few times hes gotten up late and snuck into our bed but I just take him abck to his bed, give him a kiss, and walk out and close the door. Its the hardest thing for me to do to let them cry but I dont think its bad for them. Good Luck

Answer 2

The mistake was to make one jealous of the "special attention" that the other was getting by sleeping in with you. Now neither wants to be the first to give that up!

It does sound like they share a room, so maybe this would work. Make yourself a bundle of blankets on the floor. Put them in their beds, and sleep on the floor in the middle. Then gradually work your way back to your own bed.

Or let them fall asleep in your bed, and then move them to theirs. They'll be waking up in their own beds, that will start them toward better habits again.

There will be tantrums and tears, that's for certain. But you do need your own bed back, so it will be worth it in the end.

Answer 3

Tape them to the bed.

LOL J/K. you should try what my father did us. Have a jumping jacks contest to see who can do the most. Let the prize be a surprise, and then give it to them in the morning so they'll be willing to play again that night.
Or you can try giving them some sleepy time tea. I think it's caffeine free and make it works just like it's name.
I would go with the sleeping pills though, because I don't think it's healthy to have (especially kids) on unnecessary medication.

Answer 4

Try reading to them while they are in their own beds. Maybe some soft music. They may get hooked on the music, but at least they'll be out of your bed! good luck.

Answer 5

Having had the same problem with two little girls I put the eldest on a mattress next to youngests bed. Tell the oldest one that kids grow while they sleep and as he is the oldest you need his help to get his younger brother to sleep.Make him feel important. It worked for me.

Answer 6

I use to lay down with my nephew in bed until he fell asleep. Then I would sneak away. I did that a few times and then he fell asleep on his own after that.

Answer 7

try to move to one of there bed. with my old one (girl now 6 years old) it worked. i moved to her bed, and at least i was sleeping! took her a week or so, and then she went back to her bed.

Answer 8

Please let me know when you figure it out because I have a two year old and a three year old with the same problem. lol...My older children also did this, thank goodness they no longer do, but they are 9 and 7...lol!

Answer 9

get a rope. Tie them down, and if someone knocks on the door, untie them.

Or you can just dope them up with Benadryl

Answer 10

duct-tape lol

explain to them that big kids sleep in their own beds ... and only little kids sleep with mommy

xoxo
Emily