How do I get my 4 and a half year old son to sleep in his own bed/room?
By maddysmommy
@maddysmommy (16230)
United States
5 responses
@addysmum (1225)
• Canada
15 Feb 07
Is there something in his room that upset him? My son had this teddybear curtains in his room and during the day he loved them but at night with the back lighting he was afraid of them. My son is also so afraid of the dark that he sleeps with a lamp on not a night light. I also had to put on of those door handle locks for kids on his door so he couldn't get out but I can get in easly. The bad thing about this is a little tough love is the only way to get him to sleep on his own. Put him to bed, leave a lamp on, remove all the bad things, even go on a monster hunt to clear the room of any worries he has and then close the door and let him cry and scream. If he works himself up until he is sick or hysterical then go in calm him down and start over. Don't give into him that is what he wants and you lose all authority in his eyes making it harder the next time you try.
2 people like this
@ljcapps (1925)
• United States
26 Mar 07
We actually never let our son sleep with us, so it wasn't a huge thing for us, although every once in a while he'll crawl in our bed when he gets up way early and snuggle for about five minutes and then proceed to bounch all over us. We do something similiar to the nice lady up above, we have bath time and reading time to help wind down, but we also check the closets for monsters, and the drawers under his bed and in his little house in his room, just in case. he does have a night light and that helps. We also made sure that he knew that while he was sleeping Blue and Penguin would stand guard over him and mommy and daddy were only a yell away. However, we went through a serious monster phase where our heater was making a horrible grating noise right outside his window and scared the heck out of him. We got a little wiffle bat that he kept by his bed to beat up any monsters that came near him. That's helped a lot, and with the nightlights we haven't had a problem, since. How did it all turn out with him? Have any of the other suggestions helped?
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
12 Feb 07
My 7 month old sleeps with me - I will have to put him in his own bed once he is around a year. My solution to your problem would be explaining to your boy that big boys dont sleep with their Mommy's and Daddy's. Gradually wean him off co sleeping by bringing his bed into your room. Once he is comfortable enough not to come into your bed, move him back to his own room. You could try rewarding him by promising stuff for his bedroom also such as Spiderman or Bob the Buildder duvet set. Good luck.
2 people like this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I was thinking whether that would be a good idea to bring his bed into our room and have him get use to sleeping in his own bed, and the moving it back once he gets comfortable. I think I'll try that too! Thank you for your advice.
1 person likes this
@dreamingmyth (594)
• United States
12 Feb 07
luckily i dont have that problem with my son.. when i was younger i would try to sleep in the bed with my parents all the time though.. however they never allowed it.. when i was scared my mom would come and lay on my bed with me until i fell back to sleep.. u can always try that.. it may be a real pain at first, but ur going to want to break him of this habbit! we have a friend of the family who has a little girl in 3rd grade now and she sleeps in her parents bed every night!
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
12 Feb 07
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who has trouble with their kids sleeping on there own (especially when they are a little older). I know i have to break this habit and I am going to try. Thanks for your comment.
@all4ucnc (861)
• United States
12 Feb 07
We've made a whole routine out of bedtime after his bath we sit down in the livingroom for a story, gets him to wind down and get in some good cuddle time for us both. Then when it's time to go to bed he has us tuck him in, and turn out the lights, But we don't leave the room yet, he has a night light. And he'll check out to see if there are any new shadows. If not then we are free to go, but if there is then we have to figure out what they are.
A While ago, he had us make him a fort on his bed to sleep under, just for fun, It's still up, I think it helps him from having to see any shadows, that he may find to be scary, But he wont sleep without his night light either.
My daughter also keeps a flashlight under her pillow, just in case. Hope this can help...
2 people like this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
12 Feb 07
It has given me some ideas, so thank you very much.
1 person likes this
@temptatts4u (39)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Here's what I would do - I would set up an intercom (like the baby intercom systems they have) in his room and let him know that you can hear him if he is scared or if he has a bad dream. I would give him a night light, and I would not make him keep his door shut all night. I have an eight-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy, and they both share the same room. I still use my baby intercom to hear them - it's especially useful if they have a bad dream, have an "accident" or if they are very sick and you need to get up to them quick.
Good luck!
