HELP!! Trying to Keep Kids in Their Own Beds at Night

Put them back into bed every single time they come into yours. You're right - it is exhausting and the payoff will come. My son went through that period and it took several nights of me returning him to his bed and then it clicked one day that he sleeps in his bed until the sun comes up. Some people love having their children sleep with them and I love it too. I just don't want my children at 10 years old to be sleeping in my bed! I like having peaceful rest.

Lately mine has been popping out of bed at random. We tell her if she gets up we'll put the baby gate on the door. When the gate is up, she's on her own, so far I haven't found her asleep anywhere but her bed...although I've heard tales of little ones falling asleep on the floor, random other places in their room---eventually they fall asleep, right? Doesn't matter where, so long as their sleeping!

I have never slept well with my daughter in the bed, I had to keep that boundary so I could be a better mommy when I was awake!

I'd go w/the supernanny routine. It means a few sleepless nights but the problem will be solved for good. The first time each night you find them not in their bed, pick them up, put them in their bed and say good night. Each time afterward, pick them up and put them in bed w/NO eye contact and NO words - NO communication of any kind. Keep doing this - it may take a couple of hours the first couple nights. Do NOT cave, do NOT respond to the tantrums, just keep putting them back in their own bed. we did this w/our youngest and it worked like a charm w/in a few nights.

You might want to stagger their bedtimes, the 2 year old say at 7:00 and the 4 year old and 7:40. My kids 4 and 7 share a room and it was a hard time when it was still light out and I put them to bed at the same time. Total pain, so I stagger their bedtimes, which makes my 7 year old get special time with me, my younger one is fast asleep and it saves me so much stress.

They have programmed themselves to wake up, being consistent no matter how tired you are and put them back. Also warning them sternly they are not to wake each other up and HAVE to stay put! Do it over a weekend so there isn't work or school being effected by the lack of sleep! :) Right now they are running the show and will continue to do this as it is a habit now.

Put up a chart and challenge them both to whomever can stay in their own beds each night the most will get a prize, do a sticker or whatever and at the end of a month (they both can win or tie if both do it) have a reward for whomever did it.
My kids love challenges.

I put the baby moniter back in there room and put a baby gate up and it keeps them in the room at night and i can hear if anything is going on.

J.
I work from home and you can too.
visit www.freedomathometeam.com/jkeyton

Maybe they are lonely and would sleep better in a bed together.
C. B

I have the same problem with my twin 3 year olds. They wake up in the night and come and crawl into bed with us. I have tried a little bargaining. I tell them if they can sleep in their beds all night for seven days they can get stickers which can earn them a toy. Let me know what you find out
H. Huber