Single Mom - Providence,RI

Make a little bed for them on the floor. Until they get used to not actually sleeping with you. Have them help you redecorate their room so it's more appealing for them to sleep in.

T.,

There are a lot of sleep books out there and they all seem to have different ways to get to the same goal. I read quite a few books and what I found was that I needed to be commited to a plan of action and stick to it, no matter what the plan was. Your boys are 5 so you can discuss this with them and explain things to them and have an open talk about it. Ask them why they are crying when you leave them. Tell them that you are in the next room - always! Put a monitor in their room and during the day test it so they know it works so if they feel they need you they can simply say 'mommy please come here I need you' and you will come no questions asked (at least in the beginning). I would say they need reassuring that they aren't by themselves in this. They may also want you to stay with them in the beginning til the fall asleep in their own rooms. But talk to them and see what they feel they need.

Good luck,
L. M

Hi, I LOVE the idea that first mom had - let them sleep on the floor in your room. Then when they are used to that, YOU go sleep in their room - each boy in his own bed, with YOU sleeping on the floor. I wouldn't let them share a bed, because then you are back to square one and will have another problem on your hands - how to get them to NOT sleep with each other. They are 5 years old and should start growing up now. It's good that they are close, but they should start to learn to be independent. Especially sleeping by themselves and not in the same bed with each other. It might not be bad at 5, but it will be odd at 7,8, 9, 10 years old if it would continue. Good luck.

I like Monica's advice to start off with them sleeping on the floor in your room and gradually move them into their own room. I don't know if you've considered letting them share a bed, but that could help too.

Also, the idea of having them help you decorate their room to make it their own space could help.

Good luck!

hi, I did that with my girls,
let them sleep on the floor in transition to their own room, it worked well. also, another rule I started to employ was to say that they had to start out the night in their own room, but could come in to my bed ANYTIME they wanted to in the middle of the night. that helped a lot for them to feel like I was not shutting them out. at first they came in every night, but it became less and less as they adjusted to their own beds. both worked well. good luck!

Hi T., I like the suggestion of the previous response. Another suggestion is to reward the boys with a small token every night they sleep in their own bed. Do you have a favorite amusement place near by? Make going there after the sleep in their own bed/room for a specific time period. Chart it so they see their progress. Good luck

I think boys are little harder to break away but my daughter was in bed w/me until almost 5. I let her help me pick out her comforter set and made her feel like getting her own bed was this huge deal for big girls.

Have you read the "No Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley? She has solutions that work for older kids, not just babies and it's so gentle and it works.

HI T.,

Sometimes it is a matter of getting your little ones excited to sleep in their own rooms and to feel comfortable. Do they have any specific things that are comforting or interesting to them?

I design children's rooms and offer packages on a variety of budgets. I have created small wall murals to make a space feel special with the hope for kids to sleep in their own rooms! If I can help at all my website is www.bumblebug.com and my email is ____@____.com

Good Luck!!!