How do i get my wee girl to go to bed by herself?

Question

my wee girl is nearly three and wont go to bed by herself at night. she falls asleep on the couch and i have to carry her to bed. i used to cuddle her to sleep when she was a baby so i don't think that's helped, but she was my first baby and used to cry anytime i put her down for a sleep. any suggestions on getting her to stay in her bed? thanks

Answer 1

well there's two ways you could do it the tough love way is put her into bed and when she gets out of bed tell her nite nite time and put her back into bed but don't carry her in

the other way is to put her in to bed and read her a story and wait in her room till she falls a sleep then gradually move to the door every nite and that might work

Answer 2

Put a stair gate accross her bedroom door.

Take her to bed at 7:00pm and read to her in bed for about 20mins and then say night night, step over the stair gate, dim the lights and leave her in there.

Answer 3

u should try setting a specific bedtime and either staying in the room with her until she falls asleep or just stay in for 15 or 20 minutes and each night leave a few minutes earlier soon she'll get used to it. You should also tell her that if she stays in her bed all night she can have a special surprise in the morning! hope i helped!

Answer 4

Put her in bed at a reasonable time after giving her a bath and let her watch some cartoons, if she is too into the cartoons then turn on cnn or something and have her fall asleep in bed...i know what you are going through, my daughter is 3 and she used to do the same thing, but if you start her on a routine now, then it will help you out in the long run.

Answer 5

My brother used to be the same. We made sure he had a regular sleeping pattern, and had a bath before bed and everything, but he still hated going to sleep on his own. One thing that worked was letting him watch a DVD or listen to music at a low volume in his bed until he fell asleep.

Answer 6

I may be the odd opinion out here, but she's not even three yet.  How can you expect a child that young to go to bed by themselves?  I think you need to lay her down, read her a story and tuck her in.  Make a bedtime routine, do it the same every night.  It will make her feel more secure. Just passing out on the sofa is no way for a little girl to go to bed.

Answer 7

give her 10p and a gold star for her chart if she goes up to bed by herself.

buy her a piggy bank to put the 10p in

and if she comes down without a good excuse 10p comes back

it worked a treat with my god daughter she was three

she got her 10 p each time and once a month with her money she would buy something from the pound shop, well several things

lol

Answer 8

bribery tell her if she goes to bed shell get something..toy ...ect

....works everytime

Answer 9

along with the answers that give advice on strict routines and the one that talks about the supper nanny thing... i let my daughter listen to her favorite cd every night she knows that i will rub her back for one song, then her dad comes in and tucks her in etc. and leaves after the 2nd one, this is great because it gives them a "clock"... saying that you will sit with her for 2 minutes means nothing

Answer 10

Hi , its a tough one but you`ve just got to bite the bullet and put her straight to bed,read her a story and shut the door.She will get up again and scream the place down but if you continue the routine and don`t make verbal or eye contact once you put her back to bed she`ll get the message,sounds tough and it is but its the only way.Good luck from a mummy of two toddlers!

Answer 11

This is a supernanny technique.

1: Put her into bed, make sure she's been to toilet, isn't thirsty etc.

2. When she gets out of bed, take her by the hand and say "its bedtime darling" and put her back to bed

3. When she gets out of bed again take her  by the hand and say "It's bedtime" then take her back to bed.

4: Any time she gets up after that, don't say anything to her, take her hand and put her back in bed.

It may take a while, sometimes hours but it does work and within the week she will hopefully be staying in bed.  Good luck!!

Answer 12

You could promote the old aren't you a big girl routine. Encourage her to go to bed maybe giving her a drink or something once she is there. Then read a book or talk quietly untill she settles then leave while she is settled but awake, explaining all along where you are going and what you are doing. If she doesn't fall asleep and shouts or gets up, put her back saying it's night time. You must persevere with this but most off all, stay calm and speak softly, she will do it eventually just remember you are the grown up so be firm.

Good luck.

Answer 13

If you fell asleep on your couch and woke on the bed, you would be slighty freaked out.  Everyone has sleep cycles and every 4 hours(ish) we wake (almost) to a lighter sleep and 'check' every thing is still the same as when we went to bed.  If it is not, we fully awake and investigate (or cry to get our sleep aids back...in this case, you? the telly, the sofa?) so she needs to start the night in her bed to go through the whole night there.

A short routine such as wash, teeth, nightie, very short story (only ONE, EVER!!!!) in bed, and kiss and prayer with teddy and then night light on.  That is it.  Same time, every night, only 15 mins tops (or it will be wearing and too much effort for all involved).

Consistancy is the main rule.  It may be tough for a day or two.  Don't start when you have a holiday, good programme or guests around.  If she cries, give her a kiss and hug first time and say that she has to stay in bed, but that you are outside and she is safe and sound.  Then if it continues, let her know you are there (gentle cough outside/murmer) but don;'tmake eye contact or give attention.  

This may take an hour or two on the first night. STICK WITH IT for her sake and within a few days of you being brave, you will have better sleep and a happier wee girl.  

Ps. Don't forget to 'set up the evening routine using 'play' suring the day, eg. mime putting toys to bed, clean teeth, cuddle and read story, put them in bed and wait (with her) outside her bedroom (jsut as you might have to later that night) and say 'Ah, dolly is happy in her bed.  Let's have a cup of tea now') so that she know how the 'adult will act' and what is expected of her through play.