My Children Will Not Sleep in Their Own Beds

A.,

It is so easy to just get up and bring your children back to bed with you (we are guilty of the same at times). My husband is more likely to do this than I but it is a tough habit to break. My 4yo. is the one that wakes up in the middle of the night and wants to come downstairs. It takes a little more effort than we want to do sometimes but we walk her back to her room and sit with her for a few minutes until she falls back to sleep. Like I said, it is tough at first but maybe it will help from everyone getting out of bed. Is there something waking them up in the middle of the night (neighbor coming home late?)? That used to happen before we moved....our neighbor worked nights and my kids would hear his car start, sit there and then leave (it was not a quiet truck). Anyway, just a thought. Good luck!

Hi A.: Maybe when your daughter wakes up in the middle of the night try going to her room and telling her a story, singing a soothing song or reading her favorite book to her..lay with her a bit that might help her fall back to sleep in her own bed. Its hard to break that habit I know i have five kids of my own and they all came to my bedroom during the night at one time or another I recall sleeping with all five at once before. My 14 year old will still get up during the night and sleep on the sofa at times instead of in his bedroom, when I ask him why he says the sofa is more comfy or he sleeps better in there. Maybe your son sleeps in the living room sometimes because its closer to your bedroom and he feels safer?? Good luck to you!

I actually seen this on super nanny. :) You just keep continuously putting them back in bed. If they get up 15 times in a row, you put them back in their beds 15 times in a row. It is not easy and you have to be patient. You dont keep talking, arguing, or negotiating. Its best to just say "you have to sleep in your own bed" each time or dont say nothing at all. It may last for 2 hours the first night, but it will gradually subcide. Just keep it up. If you continue to let them sleep with you or on the couch, they know all they have to do is cry or come to your bedroom to get their way. It will be worth the patience. Good luck!

Mine are 2 and 4. My 2 year old has slept in her bed for 2 1/2 years on her own...My 4 year old however has been sleeping in my bed or on the floor next to my bed for all of her life now...recently we bought her a new Dora toddler bed and guess what she has slept in her bed for 5 nights in a row now...i was amazed however my 2 year old keeps waking in the middle of the night and coming into my room now that her sister is sleeping in the room with her...so im working on that if i bring her back to her bed and sit in the living room where she can see me she goes right back to sleep most of the time...i know it is tiring but i am hoping it will pay off in the long run...good luck to you and what you decide to try but this has worked for me for the one that has been in my bed for 4 years...just have to get the other to do the same as she was before and I will be doing alright!!

I can relate; I went through that with my daughter, so I put a dim night light in her room. Sometimes I would lie with her until she fell asleep. Also, constantly reassure your children that they're safe and cut back on violent or scary movies or cartoons. Good luck.

T.

MY 2 YR OLD REFUSES TO SLEEP IN HER OWN BED ALSO. BUT I THINK SHE'S AFRAID TO SLEEP IN HER BED BY HERSELF BECAUSE NO SAFETY NET. THAT'S ALL CHILDREN WANT IS THAT NET AND MOMMY IS THAT NET.

I am your age and I also have a 2 year old daughter and 7 year old son. They both sleep in their own beds, although my daughter wakes up sometimes in the middle of the night. I go to her room and crack the door. I never take her out of her room, it just makes it worse with her thinking I am taking her to my bed. She has security items she has to sleep with everynight or she won't even lay down. I have a teddy bear that is fuzzy white and lights up the whole bear with a red, blue and green lights that alternate. Also acts as a night light. and then she has her baby. This is one baby that never leaves her bed. She has ton's of babies but this one is her night night baby. She knows when she is holding baby its time to go to sleep. My number one thing is do whatever you can to get her to sleep rock her, pat her back, stay with her til she falls asleep but don't take her out of the room to your's. It took me a long time of sleepless nights getting her used to her own room w/ out me but she is used to it now and usually just wakes up if she is thirsty or cold or hot. I hope this helps. Remember the hard work and no sleep will pay off and you'll finally have your bed and full night sleep!!!!!

Also your six year old is big enough to understand and follow rules. I make consequences. even though they are not strick but they work. His favorite toy or game or if he likes watching tv. If he doesn't go to bed and stays up and doesn't go to bed like he is told I warn him w/ one of these things and if he doesnt' listen the next day I will have the tv off limits for him and he has to find something else to do and play with. It generally works b/c he doesn't like being able to not watch tv or play his video games. He understand if he doesn't listen he doesn't do get to do what he wants afterschool. It is okay to sleep on the couch on wknds, but during the schoolweek it is enforced.

I hope this helps. Just put your little girl to bed repeatedly over and over it will eventually work. and set rules and boundaries for your son. make him understand he is a big boy now and has big boy rules not baby rules anymore. just work with them on their level!
Let me know if you agree or disagree and if it helps!
~A. R.