i have a 4 year old and she got spoiled when we moved in to our new home. she was scared so we let her lie down with us on the couch or in bed, now 2 years later she won't go to bed in her own bed and once we finally do get her to sleep on the couch we put her in her own bed and at some point thru out the night she comes into bed with me and my husband.
I have tried a new night light a stuffed animal i have even sat at the end of her bed and either way she fights me nail and tooth to go to sleep and she ends up in my bed at some point anyway
HELP PLEASE!!!!
I had the sAme problem. Finally i redecorated her room with hello kitty and put in a tv. If she wakes up now she will put the tv on and seems to love to be in her room. Might help, I hope it works. Good luck!
D.
S.,
I can't say that I've ever had this problem with any of my 3 children. I never put them in my bed to sleep. I did however, nurse them in my bed but when they were done, back to their own crib they went.
Hmmm..I would just keep being persistent about this. Afterall, she is 4 years old. Have you tried locking your bedroom door? Perhaps you can "reward" her with a sticker for each night she stays in her own bed?
Hi S.,
This sure can be hard. Although I have never had the problem with my kids my closest girl friend did. You have to be persistant with her, put her in bed, let her cry, if she gets too worked up go in and console her with your voice only. If she gets out of bed take her back, no matter what time of the night it is. It will take a few days maybe a week but she will begin to understand that she will not change your mind. In this situation she is in control and you need to take the control away from her.
Good Luck.
Take your daughter to the store and buy her whatever sheets, blankets, pillows she wants for her bed/room....Let her have total control and buy whatever she picks.....I know that might sound a bit crazy for a child her age and/or might not be what you want in your home decor.......but if you want to get her in her bed you have to let her make all the decisions/choice re her room......maybe even rearrange it. They also make "tents" for beds (maybe a princess castle or Dora)that will make her bed FUN!!!!You can do it all relatively inexpensively i.e. Target or Tuesday Morning or even E-Bay.................Hope it works!!! Also you might not want to do this but sometimes if my daughter is giving me a difficult time I put a video on in her room and let her fall asleep watching it...................keep the volume almost too low believe it or not if they are straining to hear it they will fall asleep faster......................
This will take some time but is very effective...
First, work on getting her out of the habit of falling asleep in your bed and into the habit of falling asleep in a bed next to you. (I know this sounds weird but I know it will work over time through the whole process) In order to keep her on track for the next steps do not let her get in the habit of falling asleep holding your hand.
Second, once she is going to sleep in the bed next to you you need to move the bed a little closer to the door (move it one inch each night or so just so that it is not a HUGE adjustment for her that will cause a fight).
Once she is sleeping at the door keep moving her closer to her room little by little - In the door way, In the hall way, down the hall, at her doorway, just inside her room, etc. etc. etc.
This will be a little uncomfortable for you if you like beds in there proper places, as I do, but worth it. She won't fight each night.
Like I said, I know this sounds weird but what have you got to lose?
What you are describing is co sleeping and is an important part of attachment style parenting! Lots of things happen at night, and sleeping with our children is a form of nighht time parenting :)
Try Dr Sears, Night time Parenting Book, or the no Cry Sleep Solution by Pantly!
Good Luck!
M. Rainer
www.BirthBlossoms.com
Well what worked with my daughter is watching a movie before she goes to sleep every night. She is 2 1/2 yrs old. I co-slept with her. I was ready for her to be out of my bed. It works like a charm . She knows she can pick out a movie and watch it before bed time. That is what worked for me. :O)
She was also really excited about moving into a big girl bed. i told her she can even pick out her own blanket. She picked out Ariel. She loves Little Mermaid. She loves to snuggle into it every night.
Hello S.,
There is a book called Helping your child sleep through the night. Basically when I transferred my girl into a bed she would also wake up and come into our room. The idea is to "walk them back to there room" reassure them you will see them in the morning and they need to stay in their bed. I had to close her door and make the point for (3) nights with crying and she got it and it was done. Understanding Mom is close and will see her in the AM...GOOD LUCK...
