Child Will Not Sleep in Own Bed

My question is was the 6 yr old always sleeping in mommy's bed - or has she just started this since being "scared"?
If she has been a co-sleeper for 6 years mom is going to have a much harder time getting the child to sleep in her own bed b/c - heck yea she is scared...no matter how pretty the room, the child has always sleep with mommy in the past.
My suggestion is this. Go into the childs room, lay in her bed with her and ask what she sees that is scarey. Then explain and show that there is nothing to be afraid of.
Encourage her that she is a big girl and she can sleep by herself.
Does the child have a "special" bedtime doll, stuffed animal or blanket that she uses? If not maybe get her one that she can snuggle with and that may help her feel safe.
I wouldnt bribe the child though - no new toys or treats or anything like that for sleeping her in own bed.
I would also make sure the child is awake when going to bed. If she is sleeping and carried into her own bed and wakes up she will be scared b/c she doesnt know how she got there. And being awake is important to build confindence that the child can put them selves to sleep - and will help the child go back to sleep on their own if she wakes up in the middle of the night too.
And do what Nanny911 says to do with small children who wont sleep...when the child comes into mommy's bed, pick her up and take her back to her own bed. Wait outside the door for when you hear the child get back up to come into bed with mom - you are there to put her right back. Continue this as many times a night as it takes. Mommy will be tired but with in a week the child should be sleeping alone in her own bed.
GOOD LUCK!

A LITTLE ABOUT ME:
I am 30 and married to the man of my dreams for almost 5 years now. I am lucky enough to be a stay at home mama to 2 beutiful children, a 4yr old son and 2 yr old daughter.

try keeping a lash light by the bed my oldest kept a flash light by her bed intill she was seven we woud look under our bed in the toy box and closet all with light off some time the shadow that come thur the blind freak them out as my daughter put it well good luck let us know

Personally, if a child is afraid we need to find out what the fear is. Hopefully, you do have her sleep with you for the time being to protect her from her fear.Try sleeping in her bed until she falls asleep then go to your own bed. During the daytime express the plans for the evening. Ask her during the day what she is afraid of. If you keep the habit of laying with her, telling a story or listening to relaxing music this will go smoothly. I hear of kids even meditating before bed with children's meditation tapes. Free on podcast.

Does she have a night light in her room. That may help, especially if she gets to choose one she likes and help install it, (i.e.plug it in) Another thing that may help is to make her room the site of the "get ready for bed" routine. Change to nite clothes, choose a stuffed animal or doll to sleep with, read book(s), say prayers, what ever. Start early to get it all done and then cover her and kiss and hug her and insist she stay. It may take a few nights but insisting she stay there and sticking to it is the secret.

A little about me. I have raised 6 children and now have 19 grand children. Am a retired kindergarten teacher. Yeh, I've had some experience with kids.

I have this problem with my 4year old boy. Claims are the same. I offer incentives (or bribery!) for him to fall asleep in his own room. Maybe a trip to Burger King, a playdate with a best friend on the weekend, trip to the zoo. Hopefully it is an activity you both can do together!

We had this problem with our son. We were fortunate to break this habit a few years back. He is now 5 and asks very often is we will sleep with him or wakes up in the middle of the night and asks. We got him a night light and have to make sure his closet door is closed every night. We would read him a book and then would tell him we would lay with him for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes we would get up. We also tell him we will check on him. At first he wouldn't fall asleep right away and would wait until we check on him. Evently he started falling asleep before we checked on him. I think telling he we will check on him, reassures him he will be ok. When we wakes up in the middle of the night, we tell him to go back to his room and he does. If he says he is scared. I tell him that there is nothing to be afraid of because Mom and Dad are in the other room. We also leave a light on in a room close by some times.

Some times it also helped if we "went to bed" at the same time he did. I would all get ready at the same time. Lay with him for 5 minutes and the "go to bed."

I also have a friend who had this problem and she started by sitting at the edge of the bed and gradually inching her way out of the room a little bit each night. She would take a magazine in with her to read to pass the time.