How can i get my 21 mo child to sleep in her own bed?

Question

I just got married and i have a 21 mo girl she has always slept in the same bed as me(with the exception of a couple nights here and there) and we need to get her in her own bed? What is the best way to go about doing this..... We also just recently moved into a new house

She has a crib

Answer 1

After many attempts at other things I found that making it a big deal about how special it is to have her own room work for us. When we moved into a new place my daughter had a hard time sleeping in her room, so we went out shopping for things that would make her room as comfortable to her as possible. We let her pick out a brand new bed-set and accessories, brought new books and movies (without spending a fortune either :)) And we went home and put it all up together; let her *help* make up her new big girl bed and big girl night light (we chose the type that cuts off when you turn the lights on or the sun brightens the room). After that it was hard to get her out the room.
There were still a few nights where she would come into our bed but I just walked her back to her room and had her talk to me on the way back about what woke her up and just some comforting words or reinforcements about her special place.

** Before you go shopping you want to talk to her about her special room and get her understanding and excited about growing up and sleeping in her own room; otherwise you went out and redecorated for nothing!!

** The option that worked against us was the sleeping in the bed/room with her or the sit/laying in the bed/room with her until she fell alseep because when she woke up she expected one of us to be in there with her and she made her way back to the bed with us or cried! The easiest thing is to make her fall alseep in the room the way it will be if she wakes up in the middle of the night so it's no suprise and less frightening to her. Get her ready for bed do whatever nighttime activities (reading, singing, praying) you do before putting her to bed, kiss and tuck in and go!

Answer 2

Hi,
Just a question does she have a crib or a bed to go in too?
I think if she has a crib it would be easier because you could put her in there read her a little bed time story and then maybe play some music.( my twin girls go to sleep to celine dion's cd miracles the lullabys)
I also think that if she is going into a bed you will probably have to lay with her until she sleep, because if she is used to you being next to her she will probably need to feel you next to her.
My son always wanted to sleep with me and my husband but we just put him in his bed and if he came in our bed at night we would make sure that we always put him back in his bed.
Maybe if you start a reward chart for all the nights she stays in her bed maybe that will work. Use special stickers that she likes!!
Well good luck my friend I'll have my fingers crossed for you and you husband!!
Julie

I would try what I said to put her in her crib make her as comfortable as can be and then just go out leave the door open a little she will cry for a few night but believe it not she will get over it and know everynight that is what will happen. I did this with both of my twin girls and the are about to be two and they are fine everynight!!!! Good luck

Answer 3

You just do it. It will be rough for awhile, but needed. Some people frown on "props" (blankets, teddys, etc). I think they are healthy and necessary. Big bedrooms at night are scary for me as an adult. Imagine how scared a child is. Don't forget the nightlight.

ANd never, ever use a bedroom as punishment. Their room should be their haven, not a punishment.


PS- at 21 months, start looking into a toddler bed.

Answer 4

I have two suggestions for you, one that worked for me and one that worked for my friend:

1) This one will take a little bit of time, but if your daughter does not adjust well to change this may be best. We started transitioning our DD out of our bed and on to a mattress on the floor next to us. Then every Sunday night we started to move the bed a little farther away from ours until it was in her room. She actually slept in the hallway outside out room for about a month, but that was as far as she was willing to go. Once it was time for her to sleep in her room we took a day off work and repainted and decortaed the room with her favorite charachters from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. That night we talked to her about being ready for a big girls bed and her own room then after dinner we surprised her with. Worked like a charm. She still sleeps with us everynow and then mainly when her second set of molars are coming in or she is sick, but for the most part she loves her own room.

2) the second idea is to take a little bit of time and imganation and write a little book about a girl who moves from the the family bed to a big girl bed in her own room. My friend did hers with construction paper, markers and a stapler. They read it a couple of times and then they went to store and she got to pick out her own bedding and bed just like the girl in the book and then she got to help set it up just like the girl in the book, and then she got to sleep in there just like the girl in the book. She also include a part about the first couple of nights that she could come back in with Mommy and Daddy if she got scared, which they did when she woke up at 3 and didn't like being alone, but this only last about a week, but hey you get until then by yourselves.

Good Luck, this is such a hard transition for the whole family, but I do not regret letting my baby into our bed or moving her out when we felt she was ready.

Answer 5

try to stay with here in her bedroom till she falls asleep a few nights.. or start with naps in in her bed during the day and work your way up to over night.. sleeping on the floor a few nights may be what you need to do in the long run.. also be very communicative about why she may be uncomfortable by herself, does she need a night light, an open door, or a white noise machine maybe if she wakes easily..

Answer 6

Decorate her room really cute, install a night light, turn on a radio playing calm soothing music and before she goes to sleep - read to her (sit on the floor next to her bed to do this). Also, let her know this is her room and she's NOT allowed in your bed.

Answer 7

Not sure my 20 month old son still sleeps with us. Thinking of moving him to his own toddler bed next to mine. My daughter slept in our room in a toddler bed til she was 5. I can't help anyone with bedtime issues. Have to many of our own. LOL.

Answer 8

I'm pretty sure you have her room set up to her liking. I'm having the same problem with my son that's about to be 3 next month. I didn't have this problem with my other boys. Just keep trying eventually she will be in her own bed.

Answer 9

You need to establish a new routine. e.g

Let her get used to the room by allowing her to play in it.

Put all her toys in it

Have a night light

Put her favourite bear/teddy into the bed

And when you are getting her ready for bed tell her that she will be going into the bed with her bear.

Dont expect all this to happen straight away, it will take time.

Good luck

Answer 10

I have a routine set for my DD, we read some stories in her room, then she turns on her sterio with her night cd, and we lay down together until she is calm and relaxed and then i leave.
you will have to find something that works for you and your daughter. the first couple of nights might mean sitting by her crib and her crying but you have to be tough.

good luck