Four year old won't stay in bed
By Samanthavv
@Samanthavv (1380)
United States
October 24, 2015 7:46pm CST
I have a four year old daughter and she used to be really good about staying in bed at night. The last couple weeks, she has been getting up eight to ten times a night! First she needs a drink of water or asks for another story, or has to go potty four times in less than ten minutes. Or she wants a different stuffed animal to sleep with and has to search all of the toys for that one elusive and hidden stuffed animal. I feel like she is just stalling and trying to stay up later, but I am not sure how to break her of this habit. I am getting so frustrated with it! She will be five in February.
How do I nip this in the bud?!
3 people like this
4 responses
@LeaPea2417 (37403)
• Toccoa, Georgia
25 Oct 15
I am not sure how to answer but just to say it kind of reminds me of my own son when he was 3 or 4. He would get scared in the night and want to join us (Mom & Dad) in our beds. We let him sleep between us but he flip flopped so much, we had to kick him out. We locked our door and told him he had to sleep in his own bed. He cried at first but then he went back to his bed and he overcame the urge to join us in our bed.
1 person likes this
@Samanthavv (1380)
• United States
25 Oct 15
I don't think she's afraid. She is my fearless kiddo. I think she's just bored or worried that were out having fun without her or something. I'm a meanie. I won't let my kids sleep with me after 1-2 years old.
2 people like this
@Samanthavv (1380)
• United States
25 Oct 15
I have been trying this. Even threatened consequences if she didn't stay in bed, but she just keeps doing it, despite the punishments. She is my third child and I never had this issue with the others!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
25 Oct 15
@Samanthavv I always heard the third one was the hardest. My daughter has four. She has a routine with the kids: drinks, prayers, a song. I probably would just tell her that it was done and she was not getting up, and refuse any interaction with her if she gets up anyway.
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
25 Oct 15
@Samanthavv How about you give the kids, all of them, tokens, and each time they get up, they lose one. If they keep their tokens they get to "spend" them for something special. Maybe something like one-on-one time with you. What happened two weeks ago that may have contributed to the behavior? Then what is the pay off for getting up multiple times? Was she aware of the bullying at school?
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 Oct 15
Could be a lot of things. She's not tired because she wakes up too late or naps during the day.
Could be she's too wound up at bedtime and needs an hour or so of quiet time before bed.
I would move her bedtime up half an hour without telling her, that way she gets all that stuff out of the way and when it really is bedtime she actually falls asleep.
My kids usually play or talk for at least a half an hour before they go to bed. I just try to ignore it. They know they at least have to stay in their bed and can't get out, but if they want to talk to themselves or look at a book until they're sleepy I don't care.
@Samanthavv (1380)
• United States
25 Oct 15
I told her that if she gets up, then she's going to clean until she's tired. She hates cleaning. Suddenly she was super tired.
