How do I get my daughter to stay in her own bed?

Hi 34momma, I am guessing that up until recently, she has been allowed to sleep with you and your husband? It isn't just the dark that is scary to her. It is the feeling of being alone as well. She is used to having you there and it is her security. One of my girls had this problem. She was always crawling into bed with me and I could see afterwards that I probably should have gotten up and brought her back to her room when she did this but she would snuggle in with me and to be honest, I loved having her close probably as much as she did. I did start bringing her back to her room when she would crawl in with me. She did not go to bed in my room, she just would crawl in later on and it was every night. She did not fall asleep well in her own room and was constantly looking for excuses to get up. I got her a radio for her room and that seemed to help some. I also got her a tv and vcr. I didn't hook up the cable but after reading to her and tucking her in, I would sometimes put in a movie for her. The rule was that she could not get up or the movie would be shut off. 9 times out of 10, she would fall asleep long before the movie ended. All you can do is try different things and don't stress too much about this. I think they reach an age where they just naturally outgrow some of this stuff. My daughter just stopped coming into my room and I don't really know if it was anything that I did or if she just outgrew it. She is 16 now and i have to tell you, hugs are precious....I miss the days when I was her world. Seems like yesterday. They really do grow up so quick.

I believe some good part of the story is not told us. However, the fact remains that you can still discipline your daughter, not by scolding her anyway but by way of advising her always. I believe she was over pampered at her early stage. So what you do is try as much as possible to telling her always to go back to her bed and sleep, no matter how much she cries, for seven days she must understand her position. SamShima

I would try something like a new bedspread/bedding ensemble. Let her help you decorate her room and specifically her bed. Perhaps if she gets to "decorate" she will be more inclined to stay in her room. Is she ever scared to be in her room by herself or is it just a bad habit? You might also try lying down with her until she is asleep and then leaving her. Does she have a special toy or stuffed animal to sleep with? I would try lots to get her in her own bed. I can imagine a 6 year old can take up quite a bit of space.

For me let understand her that she do that way but first you accompany her and after she sleep then go to your bed.

It sounds like your daughter isn't really what you would called "scared".. she is just accustomed to sleeping with you and her father. I have a daughter that will be 2 in December and I had to break her early from sleeping in the bed with me because I instantly viewed it as an issue that would not get better if I didn't start now. So... she has her little bed that I bought her a year or so ago.. and I had a problem with her sleeping in her bed as well.. so this is what I did.. and it was proven to be quite effective. Since she wouldn't fall asleep in her own bed or even lay in it... I would wait until she fell asleep and then put her in the bed. She'd wake up in the bed wondering how she got there... and not happy.. but eventually she became accustomed to it so much that I could lay her in her bed at night and she'd feel comfortable. I hope that this helps!! And, good luck!!

Every children during at this age are needed good attention from their parents and they need every care that can feel good enough that they can start to believe you.I am very young about this but i have taken care of my cousin when he was small...it takes times..to settle.

I can't give you any suggestions and will be reading the rest of the responses for ideas. MY now 10 year old (yes, 10 year old) has been sleeping in the same room as us for the past 4 years!!! And this little boy had been sleeping in his own bed in his own room since the age of 18 months (way too early by Indian standards). My husband prefers that the boys sleep with us. He says he would sleep with his granny till he was 13! Now my boys refuse to go to their own room and I end up arguing every single night. I moved the little bed into our room...so that our 4 year old could move there and slowly move to the boys' room with his brother. But his brother sleeps there now and he with us. What makes me more mad is the fact that their dad INSISTS on it. I don't think any suggestion is going to help me unless my husband makes up his mind. If 13 is the age he is going to get the older one out....it's going to be really really hard then...it's hard enough now :(

it will take some work on your part but what you need to do is every time she comes into your bed, get up and take her back to hers all the while comforting, getting her favourite blanket, etc. and everything else you are doing is right.

I have almost the same problem as you. although it does not really feel like a problem, I do know that it is. she still sleeps in our room and she is 5. some times she sleeps in her own room but during the night she also comes to our room and gets into a bed there. i have tried a lot to get her to sleep on her own. i wish I had advice for you but I do need it myself. if you do come across something that helps, please post here again. I would love to know as well. likewise if I find something. good luck to you.

hi 34momma I never started letting them sleep with us and thus never had to fight to get them to sleep int their own room. I would take her back to her own room, read to her, stay with her until she fell asleep. if she gets up in the middle of the night'take her b ack to her own bed again. warm milk a hug and stay with her for awhile. every time she gets out and comes into your room take herback to her own bed.consistency will win over as its much healthier for her to have her own bed and bedroom too. Hubby will have to cooperate too and back you up on this. for one thing you and your husband should have some personal time together without daughter in your bed.