Any tips for getiing a 3 and 1/2 year old to sleep in his own bed for the whole night?

Question

Any tips for getiing a 3 and 1/2 year old to sleep in his own bed for the whole night?

Answer 1

give him a good warm bath and a cup of milk or juice and put on music and put him in the bed or you could just let him drain his enegry at a park theme park or just skating

Answer 2

Hi, I'm a childrens theripist student.

One: repetition is a must... all children need repetition! as soon as your child leaves the bed, immediately take the child back to bed and explain that it is bed time and this is where he/she sleeps. Should get the point after a few nights.

two: pretend you are asleep on the floor next to their bed and as soon as they fall asleep, you leave the room. this gives them the impression that you are "close".

three: visit your childrens doctor, your child may fear you are leaving them all alone although you are in the next room. Your doctor may have more ideas for you.

Answer 3

I have two children and this worked with both.

I gave them something to work for.  I took them to the store and let them pick out a toy or movie that they really wanted ($20 or less) then I sat it on top of the refrigerator.  They had to sleep in their beds for 7 nights straight to receive it.  By the time they had slept in their beds for 7 nights they were fine.

Answer 4

Wearing them out every evening should get them to fall asleep quickly, and eventually they'll be comfortable enough going to sleep that they won't necessarily need to be worn out.

Also, you can sit down close to his bed for a few nights, starting next to the bed and each night moving a little further away.

Once the routine has been established, if he gets out of bed once, impassionately pick him up, put him back in bed and quietly tell him it's bed time. Every time after that just put him back without saying a word.

Stay sympathetic internally and emotionally disconnected externally!

=^ )

Answer 5

My son is 21 months and has been sleeping in a toddler bed for a few months now.  I found that making his bed and room a place where he really wanted to be was one key issue (making it comfy and decorating with his favorite stuff) also as already mentioned...Repetition! Put him down, read him a story, tuck him in and say goodnight.  Then whenever he gets up, simply bring him back and say nothing to him.  Keep doing this no matter how many times he gets up and you just want to give in.  He will get it after a while.  He might not be happy about it, but he will get it.  Also if he wakes up in the middle of the night and comes to your room (as my son sometimes does) don't let him into your bed because you are too tired to get up.  Force yourself to get up and take him back to bed, again without saying anything to him.  This has worked well for me, hope it all works out in the end for you!

Answer 6

My daughter is almost 4 and still sleeps with me. She has started to ask to sleep in her own bed sometimes. I haven't pushed the issue- I am a single mom though and so it's not a big deal for me.

Answer 7

I agree with the others about getting into a bedtime routine and you need to be prepared to be consistent.

Each time I enforced the own bed all night with my own children we had 3 nights of h**l when they kept getting up and would scream when you put them back to bed.

I would sit on the floor with either my head down or looking away while they settled and would then leave. If they tried to get up I would take them back and tell them it was time to sleep (no cuddles just straight back to bed) had to this about 12 times the first night but it does get progressively better.

If there was tears I would let them go for about 3-5 mins first time, go in and only say that it was 'sleep time now' and get the crying under control (again no cuddles), and would gradually let them cry a few minutes longer each time. The first night was pure h**l and it took all my self discipline to actually go through with it the second night. But I only had to get about 3 times the second night, once the third and from then on they have been fine.

Answer 8

you should enforce repitition that is sooo true that repitition is a must! every time he or she gets out of bed bring them back in you may want to start putting them to bed earlier when starting because they keep coming out but it will stop after a few days but dont give up keep bringing them to bed and dont chicken out show them that you mean it!

Answer 9

yeah tell him Christmas is 5 months away and santa wont leave anything when that time comes around if he cant sleep in his own bed.

santa = parental leverage