My toddler son won't sleep through the night in his bed!!! I don't know what to do anymore...any ideas??

Question

He will be 3 in february and for months now he crawls into our bed in the wee hours of the morning, between 1-3am usually I think. Most times I am so deeply asleep and so used to it, that I don't even wake up until I am so squashed in the middle I just can't sleep anymore. My back is always sore and I am now 5 weeks pregnant and have to get this problem sorted ASAP!!

What can I do to make sure he sleeps in his bed!!

Answer 1

Put something on his door or your door that will wake you up when he comes in, a loud chime or something like that. Then take him back immediately. Don't speak to him, cuddle him or give him attention. Tuck him up and go to bed. He will get up again and again but just repeat the actions, don't tell him off just keep everything very quiet and low key. The next night do the same. It might take a week before he gives up but he will. Don't give up once you have started as then when you try again it will take twice as long. Decide when you are going to do it, choose a time when you feel strong. Tell your little boy it is time to sleep in his own bed and have a chart where he gets a sticker when he spends the whole night in his bed. When he has 5 stickers offer him a treat, something you know he will really like. Then go for it. You could go on a website like B4U Go-Ga-Ga where there are lots of mums who could give you support.

Answer 2

Let him know when he's calm and before he's sleeping that he cannot come into bed with you. If he does, you or Daddy will bring him back to his own bed. Be sure to follow through. Or, as awful as this sounds, put a lock on your door. When he can't get in, he'll either go back to his own bed, or he'll knock on the door and you can wake up and bring him back to his bed.

Answer 3

I am trying the same to get mine to do the same thing, but nothing works. I am thinking of redesigning his room to make it more fun to be in, right now he has the bright bear theme baby nursery thing going on, but I think if I try some solid colours, blue, red in themes that interest him like eg. Astronauts or race cars and probably build a spaceship or racing replica on is bed so he feels like he is in a space ship or in his car. I have the idea but to it is just to put in to action and hope it works. I have to wait on my husband to take some vacation so we can build it together. Good luck with yours and I will let you know how mine goes.