Hi I am wanting some tips on getting my 3.5 year old to sleep in his own bed. From about the age of 3 months he has co slept with myself and my partner but now he is getting too big. He will go to sleep in his own bed in his own room but wanders out about 5 hours later and wants to get in our bed. It's our own doing I'm fully aware of that but I still have to lie down with him in his bed until he is asleep then sneak away to have any chance of him going to sleep in there. Can anyone share there experiences with separating yourself from sleep times ?? Should I just put him in his room, read a book, kiss him good night and walk away and be prepared for him to get in and out of bed all night or is there a way to reduce the stress for him and me ??
3 Replies
Have you tried gradual withdrawal? It's where you stay slightly further away from him each night until he can go back to sleep without you in the room? Does he go to sleep on his own when you first put him to bed or do you stay with him? If he goes on his own you should be able to do the same in the middle of the night. It's going to cause a bit of upset until he gets used to it but once you push through it will all be worth it.
My daughter was exactly the same. We finally escaped it by doing 2 things;
1. A sticker chart (we actually made it together - she seemed to like this better that a bought one!) with the reward being a toy that she really wanted.
2. I had this little tooth keeper with fairies on it, that I was given when she was born. I told her that if she goes to sleep nicely, the fairies would come and bring her a little treat in the morning. Can be anything - a 5c piece for a money box, or in her case, a couple of the really tiny chocolate buds (the ones for cooking).
I also have downloaded a couple of audiobooks onto my iPhone - I put that on flight mode (so she doesn't get interrupted) and she listens to Peppa Pig, the Gruffalo's Child, or the Frozen soundtrack.
Once it worked, if she was particularly upset one night, and wanted me in her room, I would sit away from the bed, with my back against the wall, and not make any eye contact etc.
Good luck!
I wish I knew! I have a 2&3 year old sharing a room with a single bed & queen. Most times they both stay in the queen. I stay with them to go to sleep and then if I don't fall asleep I go to my bed, during the night one of them will wake up, it's easier to go jump in their bed. I figure it's not forever, and can't work out how to get both to sleep any other way without it taking hours!