Breaking Daughter into Her Own Bed.

I don't think it's a big mistake to sleep with your kids. I think it is a gift, but that's just me. Soon enough you'll be heartbroken that she's not a big part of your daily life any more and you'll ache to feel her warm little body next to you.

I would be terrified if I were her and in a brand new house and alone in a dark room for the first time without you, and crying because I'm scared and being in the new house means mommy doesn't come when I'm scared. That sounds cruel to me.

Wait for one month after you move in to put her in her big girl bed. Start touting the greatness of a big girl bed and then, two weeks before the day you plan to move her, tell her about the special day and talk to her about it daily in an excited for the big girl voice. Give her a special stuffed animal with special mommy and daddy love inside it. Wear it under your shirt for the day (if you are home) so it will smell like you. Spray a squirt of your favorite perfume on it.

If she cries, go to her. After a c ouple of days you can let her cry it out if you feel that's the right thing, but make sure she feel safe in the new space first.

Moving is really stressful for a small child, who depends on consistancy for security. She's also always had grandma and grandpa around and now they are gone. She'll be missing them and that will weigh on her heart. Taking you away at night in a strange place and making her cry herself to sleep, terrified, doesn't sound like a good plan to me.

some children have a hard time with transition, so you may want to get settled in the new house for a few days/a week before you switch her.

you could try making a big deal about it. make sure her room/bed is inviting.. has fun sheets, etc. put glow in the dark stars on her ceiling, maybe get her a new stuffed animal (let her pick it) and/or jammies, and talk about it for a few days. like it's a big event - a big girl transition. talk about it a lot! get her on board.

when it gets to that night, she might be afraid, but don't go back...try one of those methods like sitting by the bed (not in it), then moving further from the door. or, depending on what your daughter is in to, let her listen to music or stories on CD while she goes to sleep. it will prob be hard, since sleeping with you is all she knows. just keep in mind, back tracking will never make it easier. it will only teach her to cry harder. most transitions with kids take 3 days.

It's going to be hard for her. You'll have some sleepless night while she figures out it's good for her to be in her own room. I would agree that you ought to try to sleep in her room with her for a couple of nights while she gets used to the new bed, but then I would just let her cry a few nights. She won't do it long.

When we switched my daughter from crib to her own bed we had her help us put the toddler bed together and I bought her a cute pillow and blanket for and and made such a big deal about her own bed that she was thrilled to sleep in it. Just make it a positive think for her. Try to make her feel like she's getting to be a "big girl". ya know hype it all up. make it fun for her.

She could get good use out of a crib for another year. That's what I'd do. Put her in it right away...pat her & soothe her til she's asleep for the first few nights, then taper off the interaction. Good luck!

I would start out in the new bed right away, make a big deal about how the new house comes with her very own big girl room with her own big girl bed. Let her help pick out the colors of the sheets and blankets if you do not already own them. Once you are in the new house, start slow but be consistent. Put her in her bed, and make her stay there all night, but maybe sit with her until she falls asleep the first 2 or 3 nights, and than just until she is almost asleep, and than just for a story, as so on, so she can get used to the new arrangement.

I think it is a wonderful gift you have given your daughter to let her be close to you and your husband, definitely not a mistake. I totally agree with SA Mamma, in that you should take it easy. I am in the exact same situation and plan to do a gradual move to her own bed. Moving is such a huge transition for a young child and so is moving to her own bed. I wouldn't try to push both at the same time. Also, check out the book, The No Cry Sleep Solutions for Toddlers, it will help guide you in heling your precious one transition.

does she nap in her own bed? It would probably be easier to start her with naps in her own room. Is her new bed a twin size? Can you sleep with her in in the first night so she can get used to her new room in a more comforting way?

Hi, I’m D. M. from the GoodNites NiteLite Panel. Mamapedia is partnering with GoodNites and your question is definitely relevant to what I talk about with the NiteLite Panel so I wanted to provide my advice. And I’m certainly not flipping out. I have six kids and my youngest daughter slept in my bed from the time she was an infant until she was three years old. What can I say? I was tired and she had me trained. I think moving is the perfect time to move your daughter into her own bed. Get her excited by letting her help to pick out new bedding or some furnishings for her new room. Don’t forget a nice, bright nightlight to help banish her fears. For more tips of helping your children get to sleep and sleep through the night, visit Goodnites.com which is an excellent source of information on nighttime issues.