J.L. asks from Lexington Park, MD on February 18, 2008
Two Year Old Will Not Sleep in Her Bed Anymore, Ends up in My Bed by the A.M.
My two year old has never had a problem sleeping in her own room until recently. Sometimes she will fall asleep in her room only to wake up in my room. I never went through this with my son (now age nine), but the baby will not stay in her bed. Does anyone have any suggestions about getting her to stay in bed all night. She is not in a crib, she has been in a bed for over a year now.
So What Happened?™
Installing a baby gate wouldn't work, especially since she can climb over it. It has been a few days now and I just carry her back to bed when she gets out. If she sneaks in and I don't here her, when I get up I put her in her bed before she wakes up. Hopefully, a few more weeks of this and we will be done! Thank you everyone for your suggestions!
Featured Answers
T.H. answers from Danville on February 18, 2008
I noticed that my two year old also began waking up at night. I'm no psychologist, but I think he had begun to have bad dreams. If you don't already have one, try placing a character nightlight that she can see from bed, like her favorite Disney Princess or Dora the Explorer.
1 mom found this helpful
More Answers
T.H. answers from Danville on February 18, 2008
I noticed that my two year old also began waking up at night. I'm no psychologist, but I think he had begun to have bad dreams. If you don't already have one, try placing a character nightlight that she can see from bed, like her favorite Disney Princess or Dora the Explorer.
1 mom found this helpful
K.H. answers from Washington DC on February 19, 2008
When my daughter was doing this at 3 yo, my pediatrician suggested we put a mat or rolled-up bedding next to our bed in our room and let her sleep there if she wanted to come in. She did it for a while, and actually slept later into the morning! Now she's fine in her room (she's 4.5 y.o.) and doesn't wake up in the middle of the night. Occasionally she comes in when she has a bad dream, but for the most part she's in her own space. She does also have a night light in her room. This definite helped us all get what we needed--my husband and I got sleep and she got to be close to us when she was scared.
C.C. answers from Washington DC on February 18, 2008
I have a Dora night light for my daughter because she is afraid of the dark on occassions we put a radio on soft music. she over stimulates her mind so at night it runs wild like in the day.good luck
D.H. answers from Richmond on February 19, 2008
Our 2 year old is in her own room in a bed too. We put a gate up in her doorway. We did it on the outside of the door jam so we could still close the door when she went to bed. She can open the door in the morning and holler over the gate. At least we know she isn't wandering around the house at night. As for sleeping...all I can tell you is that I've had to be consistent. If she gets up before morning, I tell her it is still sleepy time and put her back in her bed. In the beginning I would have to do this over and over until she got the idea. But if you make it a policy it does pay off. Good luck! :)
L.S. answers from Washington DC on February 19, 2008
I have the same problem with my son. Although he is 8 now. I will wake to find him on the floor beside my bed, or on the floor in his sister's room.
Let me know if you find something that works!
T.B. answers from Norfolk on February 19, 2008
I had that problem with all three of my children so my husband and I took turns getting up in the middle of the night to put them back in their bed. Yes you will be very tired for about one week, which is how long it took us to break out children out of this habit. Believe me in the end it will be well worth it. Like is said this will require you to be very persistent and once they see that everytime I get in mommies bed she always put me back then it will stop.
J.P. answers from Washington DC on February 23, 2008
My girl went through this too. I am a single mom and don't mind her in my bed in the am...its our snuggle time. But I don't like going to bed with her already there. I offered her a treat(cartoons in the am or chocolate milk, etc) if she went to bed the way I wanted her to. Maybe this idea will help you...treat if she stays in bed.
T.G. answers from Washington DC on February 19, 2008
I'd give her a sleeping bag for your floor so if she's scared she can still be near you but if it's a habit, it won't be something that prevents you from sleeping. She may need to be put back into bed several nights in a row and let her be upset but let her know you are right down the hall (or whatever) and she is safe in her bed.
She needs to know her bed is where she sleeps and where she wakes up.
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