Trying to Get My 5 1/2 Yr. Old to Sleep on His Own!

My son is 4.5 years and just recently started sleeping on his own! We tried crying it out-sleeping with him-having him sleep with us, etc. What has been working for us is a good bedtime routine and convincing that he is a big boy and has his bear friends to sleep with. Dad was actually the one to get it done. I worked nights for a bit and DAD did the routine and said good night-Did not shut the door however. I believe the fact that he can still hear us and what not helps him to stay in his room alone also not shutting the door.
I had a friend that when her son turned 6 he wasn't interested in sleeping with them any more.... The baby I am sure has a bit to do with it. Oh, my friend in AZ has a Dora blow up mattress next to her bed for when her daughter wakes up in the middle of the night-She can't go in bed with Mom and Dad-just next to them on her Dora bed. Also I have a friend that uses the T.V.- Not a idea for me but.... Good Luck!

ok, well he has slept with you for a very long time. He is sleep dependant because that is what he is used to. My girls have never been allowed to sleep with us, but that hasnt kept my 5 1/2 year old daughter from not wanting to. What we have done is this. We tuck her into bed, and say goodnights . She will end up sleeping in the hallway or what not, even sneaking into sissies room. I have told her that if she wants to get a big girl bed, (or whatever item your son may want to earn) then she has to sleep in her bed for 30 nights, and we check them off on the calendar.

Now what my Doctor has told me to do, because she did sleep in our room but on the floor during a tumultuous time with a neighbor's dog, was to slowly move the sleeping bag, closer and closer, night after night to our door. then you can move it down the hall. I thought that that took far too long, so we came up with the reward system. However, that is the word from a professional!

Good Luck!

I'm just hazarding a guess, since my 5.5 year old has never really slept with us, but you should be able to give him some kind of inspirational speech about what a big kid he is now, and how big kids sleep in their own bedrooms. And big kids sleep in their own rooms so that one day they can have sleep-overs with their big kid friends! Everyone knows you can't have sleep-overs if you still sleep with mommy and daddy!

When my daughter wants to climb in bed with us, I always tell her, "But there is only room in this bed for 2 people! That's okay, I will walk with you back to your own bed and tuck you in." Stick with it until he gets it. Goooood luck!

My friend gave me some good advice once. they won't sleep with you forever! My Son stopped at 7 years. However around age 5 we started telling him he was to big the reward system does work. It helped him start out in his bed. He would run in around 2:00am everynight. At least my husband and I had our lives back You just have to get creative.

The good news is, he will eventually grow out of it. Just like toilet training, he won't be in your bed in high school. Have you thought of a blow up mattress or sleeping bag on the floor next to your husband? This helped my children (19.5 and 17.5) transition into thier own beds. Good luck! M. T