How can I make my 6yr old sleep in her own bed and not mine?

Question

She will only sleep in her own bed if I sleep with her until she falls asleep. HELP!!!

Answer 1

Ok I just did this with my son. Put a chair in his room and sit in it till he falls a sleep. Do this for about a week or until he falls alseep within 10 mintes. Don't talk to her. If she gets up just put her back in it. Then if by the next week she is falling asleep fairly quickly move the chair to her doorway. Do this for another week. Then the next step pu thte chair in the hallway and tell her that you need to do some laundry or brush your teeth or soemthing and that you would be back in five mintues. Be sure to come back and check on her...kiss and hug and then leave again...tell her you will be in your room getting ready for bed and you will come back to check on her. Hopefully she wont get out of bed more that once or twice. That should work for you. Other people will tell you to let her have a fit and cry it out and that does work but it is heartbreaking and this works just as well. Also take her to the store and let her get something for her bed...new pillow or blanket or animal something that she will enjoy but only when she goes to her bed without being upset. My son picked a buzz lightyear doll and we tuck him in at night so at bedtime he is there waiting. Hope this helps....

Answer 2

It will take a few days but it is possible with effort. You have to hang in there because there may be crying involved!!

Make sure you talk to her and let her know that as a big girl it's time for her to sleep in her own bed.

The first night, stay with her until she is asleep or almost asleep.
The next night maybe rub her back but then sit in a chair next to her bed until she is asleep or almost asleep.
Then every night move the chair a little further away from the bed.

Eventually the chair will be in the hall.

This will help her feel secure in knowing that you are right there. I think she is old enough that it won't take very long, but you will have to make sure she sleeps in her own bed every night, no occasional naps in your bed!

good luck!

Answer 3

This is the down side of today's trend of having the child sleep with you.

Talk to your child about why it is important for her to sleep in her own bed: it shows she's a big girl, that she's learning to be mature, that she's brave and not a baby. Ask her to come up with reasons why it is good. Then help make the bed special: Get a cheap princess netting thing off eBay, a new comforter that she likes (even if you pick it up at a thrift store). Make it her special kingdom.

Never sleep with her in her bed. Stop that now. If she wants to sleep in your bed, require that her bed time be a little earlier--possibly as much as an hour. Then once she's asleep, carry her back to her bed. When I was a child, my parents would let me fall asleep in their bed sometimes, but I never woke up there. Dad carried me back to my bed and I never remembered it.

Don't fuss if she continues to want to sleep in your bed. Some children will seek out negative attention, just to have attention. But praise her when she has a good night in her own bed. Also, read to her. But only when she's in her bed. So, she has choices. To bed at 7pm with 10 minutes of reading in your room, or at 7:30pm with 30 minutes of reading in her own room.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Stop having her sleep in your bed, right now, no matter what.

First night, sleep with her as normal.

Next night, get her to lie down, say you're just coming, have her lie there for 5 minutes and then come lie down with her.

Just make more and more excuses as the days go by. Fold the clothes right outside her door with the door open. Be busy doing something else within sight/earshot. Sit on a chair in her room instead, because you need to mend a hole in her clothes and don't have time to lie down. Basically get her used to lying in bed ready to go to sleep without you in the bed with her, with you there, the lights dim, and it all very quiet. Sooner or later she will drop off without you. Then, next morning - LOTS AND LOTS OF PRAISE!

The other thing you could try is simple bribery. She's a little young for sleepovers, but not by much - how about telling her when she can sleep in her room by herself she can have a friend over to stay the night? Because, let's face it, it's true - she can't either have or go on a sleepover at the moment.

Answer 5

You have obviously been letting her so now you have to break the habit and it will take time. Take her to her room, read her a story and then turn on the night light and tell her good night. Is she afraid of the dark? Reassure her that you are close by in your own room and that you are going to sleep also just like her. It will take time but do not give in, because you will have to start all over. Remember its easier just to give up and do what she wants, the hard thing for you will be to break her of this habit. Its not her fault its what she is now used to. Start today and if she comes into your room, take her right back. You may have to do this over and over, but that is the only way she will learn. You will be okay.

Answer 6

I have two boys aged 4 and 6 who have been sleeping in our room on the same bed or the baby cot. We are now letting them sleeping in their own room but with little of our time in the room before they fall sleep.

First, we prep them by telling them they are now growing up and need to be sleeping by themselves.

We let them think about what bed they like and bring them along to choose their beds.

Then we setup the room. Get them some kiddy bedsheets sets. Let them put on the bedsheets and pillow covers.

This can help them wanting to be in their room.

Next, we sleep in their room until they fall asleep then we go off to do our things or sleep in our own room. The next morning they wake up without us in the room. But was not liked by the younger son as he prefers me to be next to him or at least not alone when he wakes up.

He is getting used to it but sometimes still prefer me there next to him when he wakes up. So I will response to him when call me. If I am not there to respond, will get back to him and explain that I was doing something and can't be with him or hear him. Assured him you are not leaving him alone.

You can also read them stories before bed. You can also play some of their favourite children music (not the active and wake up type). They can be by themselves with the music.

They just scared of darkness and being alone.

So playing music, have some dim light on or tell stories or be with them a while may help. It take some time until they can be sleeping by themselves.

It takes a while and so be patient. Really patient.

Answer 7

Go to bed with her until she falls asleep go to your own room.
Then when she wakes up she now knows she has the courage to sleep by herself. I did that to my 6yr old daughter.

Answer 8

Give her a bedtime routine, bath pjs, tooth brusing and story then lights out. If she cries for you let her cry, if she gets out of bed and comes to your room, get out of bed and take her back to her bed don't talk to her don't give her eye contact. If she cries, again let her cry. You've spent all this time giving her her way it isn't going to change over night. She's going to cry, throw fits etc. But you have to be consistnent...unless you want her sleeping in your bed when she is 16.

Answer 9

You should sleep with her in her bed, then when she falls asleep, quietly get up and go back to yours or whatever you were doing.

Answer 10

Just sit with her for a while or read a book to her and aventually she will fall asleep.