Refusal to Sleep in Own Bed

Updated on February 11, 2009
B.B. asks from Dearborn Heights, MI
6 answers

My nephew refuses to sleep in his bed. He is very frustrated as day is ending knowing his bedtime is approaching. He refuses to sleep in his bed and wants to sleep by his parents. He has a new sister now and no she does not sleep in her parent's bedroom. She is in her own crib in her room. The 2 and 1/2 boy has been through some changes such as traveling and being away from home for few months and having a new baby sister. Please help what could we do to convince him into sleeping in his own bed on time and without mom sleeping next 2 him?????

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G.B.

answers from Detroit on

Sure sounds like he needs this extra comforting right now. I'd just go with the flow on this.

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A.M.

answers from Detroit on

I second the sleeping on the floor next to the bed. My daughter (at about the same age) wanted to be in bed with me, but then no one slept. I told her if she needed to be by mommy, she could sleep on the floor and we kept an extra blanket in our room for her to use when she came in. It only lasted a short time before she, too, realized bed was much more comfy.

However, this works well when they wake in the night. For the not wanting to go to bed, maybe start doing a routine of one parent spending one-on-one time snuggling and reading books or a favorite activity in bed before his actual bedtime.

I hope this helps. Lack of sleep because of a toddler is so hard when you are already dealing with it due to having a newborn!

B.A.

answers from Saginaw on

I have a almost 3 and 1 year old. My 3 year old was just like this. She now sleeps in a toddler bed next to our bed. She still gets the comfort of having us nearby and we get the bed back to ourselves. Meanwhile her sister sleeps in her crib all night just perfectly. Its what works for us. Good luck with whatever they choose.

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A.O.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I hate to be the one to say it, but it is a bad idea for him to sleep in his parents room. It is the start of a very hard road ahead. He needs to know that he has his own bed and that is where he needs to sleep. I made that very mistake with my oldest boy and it took several weeks to break the habit. With my little girl, it was set from the begining that she had her own bed. It takes a bit of extra effort, maybe a few long nights, but a week or two of putting him back in his bed everytime he gets out will pay off.

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L.J.

answers from Detroit on

my daughter went through something like that at that age, she would go to sleep in her bed bed but wake up in the middle of the night, it might sound bad but i made her sleep on the floor next to our bed (she had a sleeping bag) that way she didn't get used to sleeping in our bed. it only lasted a few months she relized her bed is more comfortable.

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H.S.

answers from Detroit on

I know this will be difficult with a new baby, but your sister (or is it your brother) will have to hold his or her ground and make your nephew sleep in his own bed. Maybe they could let him pick out a new stuffed animal to sleep with; I have a 3 year old and an almost 2 year old so I kind of know where you're coming from. Occasionally, if the kids have a pretty bad nightmare, I will allow which ever child had the nightmare to sleep in my bed until they fall asleep then we move them to their room. I also watch Super Nanny on ABC, well, I did until we canceled the cable service to save money. There are some great bedtime tips ... like have dad give him a bath right before bed, let him play in the tub with a few bath-tub toys, then after dad has dried him off and gotten him ready for bed, mom takes the little boy to bed and reads him one or two stories. Then, mom tucks little boy in and leaves the room. The first time he gets out of bed, she takes him back in and says "Time for bed my dear" (or something along those lines) the second time, she says something like, "time for bed." The third time, she just says something like "good night" and then after that, she just keeps taking him in and doesn't say anything; I got that off of watching super nanny and it works pretty well

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