Parenting Toddlers (1-3) Support Group
This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of toddlers (1 to 3 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development. Join to share your stories and get advice.
I have 4 kids ages 13,10,6, and 2.. I have never had one in my bed until the last one. She is now 2 and has been in my bed over a year. Im so tired, she has no schedule. She just runs til she falls asleep. I tried moving her bed in our room she stays in it about half the night. My husband has to go to work at 3 am, so the just toughing it and let her cry doesnt work so well and she is very stuborn. I dont know why I started this in the first place. My three older kids are such good sleepers in their own beds..I cant share my bed with her any longer, help me please..
Explain to her that because she is a big girl now she has to sleep in her own bed. Have a count down to the night when she is to sleep in her own bed so that she knows it is coming and it's not a shock to her. Set the day and stick to it - consistency is the key.
Set up a rewards system whereby she gets say a pretty sticker for every hour she stays in her own bed. Once she has accumulated so many stickers (you choose how many) she will earn a reward (something she loves). She needs to have a reason for her to do this, otherwise she wont see the benefit to her and will pull every trick in the book to get back into bed with you.
You must be very strong - she will keep trying to come back into your room - you MUST take her back every time, do not debate or argue with her, just calmly explain that she needs to go back to her own bed - give her a kiss and a quick hug, tell her you, love her and leave. If she keeps getting out of her bed, take her back without saying anything. She will make a BIG fuss and use every excuse to come into your bed, but you have to be strong and believe this will work - and it will if you don't give in. It WILL be rough at first, and you may have to take her back 15 times or more on the first couple of nights, but you must not give in. Eventually she will get the message that you mean it and will not give in, at that point she will simply give in and sleep in her own bed - mission accomplished!! You will be so proud of yourself. There's no gain without pain, but the result will be worth it.
Could you start this whilst your husband is on vacation so that it doesn't disturb his sleep? If not, if you are consistent and firm in not letting her back in your bed, and she KNOWS you wont give in, it should only take a few days to get her to sleep in her own bed.
Be confident that you can do this. Stand firm and you will win your bed back.
Good luck sweetie.