Need advice!!?

Question

I have a two year old lil lady. My husband is currently in Iraq, so for the past 6 months my lil girl has been sleeping in my bed with me. I know I should have never let her get used to sleeping in my bed, but it was sort of a comfort for us. When ever I tried to make her sleep in her crib, she jumps out and runs to my room anyway. I need some advice on how to get her used to sleeping in her own room. My husband dosent come home for a few months but I want her to get used to her room before he comes home. Is it too late????

Thanks for all the advice! Its very appreciated.

Answer 1

It is never too late but it is hard - more so on you! There are a lot of good suggestions people have written but I think the best one is to sit in a chair in the room until she falls asleep. You can read a story so it isn't like you are just sitting there watching her. Do tell her that she is getting to be a big girl and that big girls sleep in their own beds. Give her positive reinforcement. Tell her that Daddy will be so proud of her. Have her help you decorate her room. Let her pick out little things: a special night light, a new picture, a "cool" radio. I slept with music on all my life until I met my husband and it was a great comfort to me. You are a good Mommy. You care about hurting her feelings and that is good. Be paitient but FIRM. You are the Mommy and what you say goes!

Answer 2

You will probably be best to start explaining to her that when daddy comes back he is going to sleep in bed with mommy and that she will have to sleep him her special new bed that daddy is brining home just for her (and of course have a special new bed *lol*)

Then if she starts coming in during the night put a little sleeping bag or her crib mattress (if not being used in her new bed) on the floor of your room and tell her that she can come in and use her special bed but she can't wake mommy and daddy or they will be grumpy.

Eventually she will stop waking to sneak into your room. So getting her to fall asleep in her big bed is the first hurdle.

Also there is NOTHING wrong with cosleeping it is healthy and normal and most military families have different sleep arrangements when one parent is gone. A study on these families actually showed they suffer fewer mental illnesses as adults. So you are doing what is best for YOUR family and screw whatever anyone else thinks.

Answer 3

Wonderful question!
I am writing from COB Speicher, I have a 4 and 5 year old! My girl(5) would NOT sleep in her bed at all. She had to sleep in our bed. By chance we had a small mattress that kids sleeping over would use. It would slide under our bed when not in use. Seeing her cousin sleep on it she began sleeping on it in our room. she would climb in bed with mom during the night. But over about four months now she is sleeping through the night in her own bed (put in our bedroom still) but it is progress. BTW the boy (4) never had any problems sleeping in a crib/bed...Good Luck and thank you and your husband for your service!

Answer 4

Only one method that I've used worked with my little bundle of joy. It sucks for your sleeping sched but what I had to do was tell her she had to sleep in her bed and take her there then tuck her in. When she hopped up and came to bed with me I had to put her back.I was firm but not mean and explained to her that she was a big girl and her mommy was coming home. I wanted to sleep in the bed with mommy. After two nights she gave in and has been in her room every since.

Answer 5

Good Luck! My son will be four this week and he still falls asleep in my bed. My husband doesn't get home 'till 12:30a.m. so when he gets home I put my son in his bed. Sometimes he'll wake up in the middle of the night and climb in my bed. Most of the time he'll sleep the whole night through in his own bed.

Answer 6

It's not too late.
What you can do is put a cot or something next to her crib for you to lay down on. When you take her to her crib, stay next to her until she falls asleep. For the first few nights, you may need to sleep next to her crib until she gets used to it again. Then you can start leaving her as soon as she gets to sleep. Lay next to her until she does get to sleep then go to your room and sleep. Do this for a while until she gets use to sleeping in her crib again. Eventually, you will get to the point in which you stay with her one night a week, then just until she gets to sleep. Eventually, you will just have to take her to her crib and she won't come out to sleep with you anymore. This may take some time. If she comes out of the crib, then just put her back in the crib and lay next to her in your cot or whatever until she or both of you falls asleep again. Hopefully, when your husband comes back, she will be comfortable in her own room again.
It's OK to let her sleep next to you in your bed from time to time like if she had a nightmare. But not all the time. She is going to learn to be on her own, even if it is just in a separate room to sleep in.

Answer 7

Have you tried getting her a toddler bed, one that fits a crib mattress? Let her pick out her own sheets, to make her feel like it is her decision! Both of my daughters made the transition very smoothly!

Answer 8

start by putting on a mattress on the floor next to your bed, then gradually move them farther away. also try to help redo her room a little. ask for her input. she probably will take a lot of pride in helping you with that. it doesn't have to be costly...little things here and there. then tell her how proud her daddy will be that she helped you and that shes a big girl for sleeping in her own bed.

Answer 9

Put her in her bed and lay with her till she falls asleep for a few nights,then just sit on the bed for a few nights,then move to a chair for a few nights,then put her in bed and just check on her a few times giving her a little pat or kiss on the forehead til she's asleep for a few nights.Tell her each night-mummy will lay with you until you go to sleep,mummy will sit with you...mummy will be here in the chair...etc.It's all about reassurance.She will get used to it-just don't back down!!Also make it routine to brush teeth,read story etc.

Answer 10

I feel your pain, I've been thru this as well. What I had to do was hard, on both me and my son, but it worked. What I did was put him in her own bed, and sit in a chair in the corner of the room. I did that for a couple of nights, then I would sit outside his room for a couple of nights, so he could see me. He cried and it was terrible, but he got used to it. It seems harsh, but my pediatrician recommended it, and it really worked.