Getting My Child in His Own Bed

I think you will just have to make the leap and put him in his own bed. At 5, it will take awhile for him to adjust to sleeping alone, but he needs to learn to do it. Does he have a bed of his own? Maybe get him some cool new sheets, a new comforter, a nightlight, anything to get him interested in going in there. Let him sleep with as many stuffed things as he wants (my 5 year old has a whole bunch of pals in his bed!). Do you have a bedtime routine? If not, start one, and follow it every night. Help him get sleepy in his bed, and then leave. If he gets up, bring him back to bed. You may have to do this a lot. I wouldn't recommend staying with him till he goes to sleep. We got into that trap when my son was around 3, and one of us would end up falling asleep on the floor! Well, when I was about 7 months pregnant, this was a bit inconvenient!
Once you decide to do this, stick with it! Don't back down. Just keep thinking about what a great night's sleep you'll have finally after 5 years!
Good luck!

I had the same problem. For a few nights I would lay in bed with him until he falls asleep then leave. Also, offer him something. "If you stay in your bed all night and be a good boy and not cry we'll go somewhere special tommorrow or you'll get him a small toy or something like that. Not to bribe him, just to reward him for being such a big boy. And make sure to let him know how good he's doing and how he's a big boy and make him feel really good about it. Hope it helps!!

I know how you feel and what you are going through. Our son is 4 and has slept with us from day 1 with the exception of a couple of nights. We have started reading books in his bed at night and turning out light, staying in there until he goes to sleep. Unfortunatly, I fall asleep too. He has slept in there until 6:30 some but mostly until about 2:00a.m. We do not feel or here him get in our bed either. I do think the best way is to take him back each time without talking to him. I would have to know he was there in the first place!! I'm at a loss too, and would love to find the perfect answer.

I have a three year old on the verge of 4 and I have had him sleep with me since day one. He goes into wild hysterics if I put him in bed.I have tried ignoring him but crying for thirty minutes or more just jangled my nerves worse than ever. My husband & I have a king size bed and he insists on sleeping between us. He has his own twin size bed that is shaped like a race car.He even has a tv in his room.
If you find an easy answer to getting your child to sleep in his own bed let me know too.

We had that problem with our 2 year old. We ended up buying him a big bed (queen) so we could lay down with him. So now at night we go lay down in his bed and maybe read a book or watch a cartoon and then turn everything off and I lay down with him till he falls asleep. I know its not the best solution but I am the type that feels awful to leave my son in there crying for me. (Not that I am knocking anyone who does it by all means but I can't do it.)

I had the same problem with my 2yr old...We ended putting a TV in his room. We turn it on a cartoon channel, turn it down real low, set the sleep timer and he usually falls asleep within an hour. We had to keep telling him he was a big boy now and he needed to sleep in his own bed....He will cry for a couple of nights but once he starts watching and listening to the TV he will forget about it.

I am experiencing a similar problem. We have been able to get our 3 1/2 year old to sleep in her bed by making a bedtime chart. She gets a sticker for each night that she sleeps in her bed and for every 2-3 nights together that she stays in her bed she get to buy one item she wants from the store (dollar tree). It has been working except she gets up at 6:30 sometimes to tell me that she has slept in her bed.

I just wanted to wish you luck because i have a 7 yr old that just started sleeping in his own bed about 3 months ago. That was going well till our house was robbed and now we're back to square one. I've been told geting up and putting him in his bed every single time he wakes up is the only way to do it, however as a working parent i know how hard it can be to drag out of bed every few minutes....half the time when he gets in my bed i dont even know hes there till the alarm goes off. Good Luck and if you find any good advice let me know!

Put him in his bed and just be consistent, take him back and back some more! Maybe on your next vacation, considering you will be up and down all night. Once he learns you are not giving in he will sleep in his bed. Leaving the hall light on and his door open should help also.

I am having the same problem. I have a 3 year old that was very sick when he was little so he would sleep in bed with us. He lays in bed and watches tv and as soon as he is asleep we move him. We are going to try to buy him a Tv for his room for christmas hopefully that works but I hope that you find a solution before a year is up!!! Best of luck to you!