How to get 2 yr old to sleep in his bed?

Question

My 2 yr old has been sleeping with me for far too long. I've tried putting him to bed in his room, and I've tried waiting til he went to sleep and putting him in his bed. He wakes up crying and comes to my bed. When he's in my bed, he never wakes in the night. I have tried to lay with him in his bed but he ends up crying until he throws up. I don't want him to feel like I don't want him but it would be nice to sleep next to my husband again.

Answer 1

I did the same thing with my first born - big mistake. When I wanted to get her out of our bed, it was a nightmare.
I would some times let her fall asleep in my room and then move her in the middle of the night.
I let her decorate her room with all her favorite things.
I read to her every night in her own room and prayed that she would fall asleep but she always ended up back in our room and then my husband would just go in her room to sleep because the bed was too crowded. Eventually she grew out of it. It is going to take time. I had a friend who had the same problem and he basically let his son sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor next to his bed and each night he made the son sleep a little bit further away until the son was in the hallway and then in his own room. I couldn't do it but it worked for him.

Answer 2

A consistent routine...like relaxing time (together), maybe reading a book, cuddling, brushing teeth, saying goodnight to the family (even the pets). Maybe some cuddling in his bed with things the comfort him, like a favorite stuffed animal, or blanket. Tell him you love him & will see him in the morning. Does he have a night light? Let him cry it out...you could try the Ferber method. Let him cry for about 10 minutes...if he is still upset, check on him, tuck him back in....leave the room again, for 15 minutes...just keep increasing the time span from which you check on him. You will most likely have a few rough nights, but everyone will get more sleep in the end. Good luck!

Answer 3

A year or two ago I was watching Super Nanny on TV. The parents had a child with this problem and she advised them to put the child to bed, say their goodnights and do all their typical bedtime routines. When the child got up, she had them place the child back in bed without saying a word. Over and over the parent would do this until the child gave up and went to sleep. It takes time and patience at the beginning, but as the days went by, the child understood that this was the new normal. Good luck, be kind and gentle, yet undeterred!
Your child will also learn that it is you who sets the rules, not him, and that's a valuable lesson for his well-being and level of respect for you as his parent.

Answer 4

we never have let our daughter sleep in our room. After she was 3 months old she slept in her room and that never changed. She sleeps all night long. We don't disturb her and she doesn't disturb us.

You are just going to have to tough it out for awhile. He will cry for you but you have to be strong. Go to him once when he cries but do not interact with him too much. Just pat him on the back, tell him you love him and that he's a big boy now and should sleep in his own big boy bed. Be patient it will take some time.

Answer 5

Does he have a night light in his room? That may help. But you may just have to suffer with his crying & vomiting until he gets the point. Some kids can vomit on command to get what they want. It will be hard, but I think it will be harder on you. I had to have another baby before my oldest would sleep in her bed. She just didn't want to be alone. Remember that kids, even 2yr olds, can make you into an emotional hostage. Stick to your rules! And eventually he'll sleep in his bed. Good luck!!

Answer 6

At bedtime, take him to his room, read a story and say its bedtime, hug, kiss, love you, night night, ect. Leave. When he comes to your room, say its bedtime and take him to his room again, put him in bed. leave. again in your room? say nothing, take him and put him in his bed. Do this over and over until he stays in his room. Ignore if he cries. If he throws up, clean it quietly, then leave again. Do not say anything after the 2nd time. After 2 days, he should be on his own b/c he knows you are serious. But you should notice a difference right away b/c once he finally crashes out, you will sleep with your hubby!!

Answer 7

Try bribery. Buy some really cool toy that he wants, and put it where he can see it. Tell him he can have it when he sleeps all night in his bed. Then give him another and another, until its not a problem, and he's used to it. Then cut back on the presents, instead make it a trip to the park, or the zoo...

Answer 8

what you do is you put him in his bed and the first night you sleep with/next to him the next night you sit in a chair right next to his bed and every night you move it a little closer to the door and if he waked up you put him back in his bed and you sit in the chair until he falls asleep it will take time but it will work it for my brothers

Answer 9

too many parents start this and then cant stop. Why do they do it. It is going to be a very long process now and you are both going to cry but you have to put him in his own bed and only go in a couple times and he will go to sleep.

Answer 10

You may be rushing him. Children can have problems with sleeping alone for the first time, and you might be trying things too quickly.

You might want to try getting him his own bed in your room, to ween him into the concept of sleeping in his own bed, but still being physically close to you. After a while, pitch the idea of him sleeping in his own room, and offer some kind of small reward for sleeping on his own for the first time.

Good luck.

CR