How do I get my 2 year old to fall asleep in her own bed without laying with her until she falls a sleep?

Question

My almost two year old daughter has been sleeping with me for about 3 months. I just remodled her room so now she has a bed instead of a crib. Which I thought would be better for her since I thought the problem was she didn't want to be in the crib and wanted to be in a bed like Mommy! I thought wrong she wants nothing to do with the bed and if she does have anything to do with it I have to lay with her until she falls asleep and once she falls asleep she will wake up 3-4 times a night and will not fall back asleep unless I lay with her! I also am having a hard time because in order to get to the bathroom in my house you have to walk through her room! Please Help Me! lol

Answer 1

LOL...if she wants to stay in your bed tell her it's okay.  But tell her that YOU will be sleeping in HER bed!  

Seriously, I know she is only two.  But tell her that it's "time" for her to sleep in her very own bed.  When bedtime comes, give her a warm milk (has natural calming qualities), read her a story, make sure she has her favorite stuffed animal, her binky if she uses one and always talk low and soothingly at bedtime.  Be very upbeat.  Don't act as if you expect there will be any problems.  If she is awake after the story, kiss her goodnight, tell her you love her and that you are in the next room.

If she cries, wait 15 minutes before going to her and then once again tell her that's it's time for bed, tuck her in again and go back to your bed.  Maybe you will have to do this 3 or 4 times a night until she understands.  But she WILL catch on.

If, since you have put her in a bed, she gets OUT, perform the same ritual, but walk her back to her bed.

Never let her cry longer than 15 minutes.  I did this because I was instructed by my friend to handle her daughter in the manner.  The first night she cried for 5 minutes and fell asleep.  Also, my friend is an early childhood specialist and I trust her judgement.

Answer 2

this is a good question becuase i'm wanting to get my daughter a toddler bed and she is 18 months because she screams every night in her crib  and when she is out of it and i'm not in bed she gets into my bed and pulls the duvay over her and makes as if she is sleeping so i think she is ready for a toddler bed but now reading your Q i'm now scared she will do the same to me what your child  is doing to u

Answer 3

i dont have any kids yet but maybe seeming you have to walk through her room to go to the toilet swap rooms im assuming its a 2 bedroom house

Answer 4

Maybe you could put a mattress on the floor and lay there for a while in stead of laying in bed with her. I am going through a similar thing with my son, they love the contact and closeness so you have to put a stop to it at night, but during the day, cuddle away. My son decided that sleeping in his cot was a no go zone and would only sleep in my bed, I have gradually tired of this because I am due to have a baby in about 12 weeks and dread the thought of feeding a baby all night long and being at my 19 mo sons beck and nightly call sessions. I won the first night and didn't get him out of his cot, laid on the mattress and we held hands through the bars until he had fallen asleep (I had to do this 3 times that night). Last night I moved the mattress away from the cot and got him to lay down by talking to him (3 times again last night). Tonight I will put the mattress over the other side of the room. Once he has adjusted I want to be able to go in and sit for 10 mins then leave regardless of if he is asleep or not...then take it back to walk in, give a cuddle, kiss and be able to walk out. Crying it out has not worked for this child.

I also agree with one of the other posters who said that you should swap bedrooms with your child because of the bathroom issue.