Another Problem with My 3 Year old...Getting Her into Her Own Bed...

Hi my name is A. and i am a mom of two kids. They are 14 and 5. My 5 year old just started sleeping in his own bed about three months ago. Before that he slept in his bed until he was almost two. We just started giving him some insintive to sleep in his room ,by decorating it in his favorite character. Also we are in a different house. But when he did start sleeping by himself again , we started praising him for being such a big boy. I hope my story helps you in some way. A.

Have you tried getting them a teddy bear. I have 4yr old and a 2yr old and we did the same thing we used to let them sleep in the bed with us. One day I took them to build a bear work shop and let them pick a bear. And now they sleep in their room.

Hang in there! I don't think that it is a big no-no! I think you have to do what works for you and your family. Maybe she just isn't ready for her own bed? If your entire family is happy, don't rock the boat!

I went thru the same thing when my husband and I first moved in together. I was by myself so he slept with me. I know this sounds evil and cold, but I tried buying everything that I could. The only thing that worked was consistancy(sp.) Put them back in thier own bed every time. It really is harder on you than it is them. Give yourself a limit of 1 hug for everytime and 1 kiss. I would walk mine back to bed and tuck him in them tell him good night and walk out. The first week was the hardest, late nights, but they will eventually sleep. Sounds meean, but works great. he has been in his own bed for a year and a half now and refuses to sleep with me even for nap time. Good luck

K.

I've been having sleep problems with my 2 year old daughter. Not the same problem as you though. A friend suggested the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child". It is a great reference for all common sleep problems. My friend had trouble with her son when she moved him to a big boy bed. He's also two. She followed the advice in the book and said it worked. I picked up a copy for $8 at a Half Price Books. Anyway the section you would read says to keep putting them back in bed. When they get out you basically just take them back to bed with NO Talking or other interaction. It may take a 100 times the first night or two (yes, she will cry), but after that it is supposed to get much better. My friend said it took her over 100 times the first night (all within about 1 1/2 hours) and about 60 I think the second night. The third night it only took a couple of trips back to his bed. The fourth night I believe it was zero. She said she basically just stood outside her son's bedroom door and waited those first couple of nights. She hasn't had any problems since.

Keep trying. Keep putting her back in her bed...It's hard. Stay with the consistency. Also you might try a reward (i.e. her favorite breakfast for lunch) Just something small. It's hard.

I have a 3 year old (4 in July) who has also slept with me pretty much since he was born. My husband works nights, so it's not an issue between us most of the time.

He would NEVER sleep in a toddler bed. Bought it, set it up, looked at it for almost six months, and sold it. What did work for us: A twin bed. Sometimes I lay down with him and end up sleeping in there until midnight or so, sometimes I sleep in there all night, sometimes he wakes up and sometimes he doesn't.

If I have gotten up and he wakes up crying, I answer him and tell him to come to me. Then he gets into his pallet on my floor if my husband is home (no room for 3 in bed) or he climbs into bed with me, and we go back to sleep.

The most important thing for me has always been that everyone get some good sleep - not going to happen for either one of us if he cries all night, you know?

OHHH have I been there before!!! My son just turned 4 in jan. and he slept with me and my husband until a little before his 3rd birthday. We finally bought him a race car bed and put it right up against our bed for a few months I would lay with him until he went to sleep then get into my bed, when he got used to that we moved his bed a little farther away from us. Finally he graduated from the racecar bed and we let him pick out his own bed to go in his bedroom. Its a really cool bed it has a slide on it and a fort under it..its about 5 ft. tall and he loves it!!!! Granted he still gets out of his bed at about 8 or 9am and comes to get in bed with me..But hey at least he is sleeping there at night...GOOD LUCK!!!

Hi there J.,
I am in the same boat with my daguther, but she is 2 1/2. I want to get her in her own bed by the time she turns three so she can have a full routine when she starts headstart!

What I would tell you is to keep doing what you're doing. I have been wanting to buy that Dora bed set toy just haven't gotten to it. She loves to play with dolls and pretend. She learned to go potty with a doll, so when she goes to the potty she takes her doll as well.
I also took her to the store to pick her own sheets and she told me herself that she wanted to sleep in her own bed, but it didn't happen. For the past couple weeks I've been sleeping in her room with her. We play in there almost all day. She sometimes puts up a fight, she says that she wants to sleep in daddy's bed! But as i start to read her a book, she calms down.
Just stick to your ground!

GOOD LUCK!

Maybe you can try moving the toddler bed into your room until she's used to sleeping in it. She may feel more comfortable knowing that you and Dad are still there with her. When she's sleeping in her own bed with no problems maybe you can slowly move her out of your room. Another suggestion from my friend here is to let the kids sleep together, this is of course if the younger one will allow it.