My 9 year old son will not sleep alone Help!!?

Question

My son can not go to bed alone or fall asleep alone and he is almost 9. I have to lay down with him for him to go to bed. If I get out of the bed he will return to my bed in the middle of the night. I need advice how to get him to stop. I have tried many things nothing works. He says he is scared to sleep alone.

Answer 1

Get him a night light most kids are scared of the dark.

Answer 2

Organise a sleepover with 1 friend at your place 1st, then a sleepover at a mates place, or with cousins.

Answer 3

You are inadvertantly enabling this behavior. He needs some tough love. Your son is probably using the "I'm scared" tactic because he knows it works. What you should do is go to the store, and buy him a night light, not a normal night light, but one that he chooses, you can tell him to choose one. My kids love the Aquarium SeaBed Motion Fish Lamp.  But there are some really awesome night lights these days, so go to the store with your son, and have him pick one out and tell him  you will buy it for him but he has to start sleeping in his own room. That may entice him to his own room, and if it doesn't at least he will have a night light that is interesting. May even want to buy him the fake moon light with planets. Make his room appeal to him more...buy new bed sheets and let him pick them out.

If none of this works, just get tough. Don't keep buying into I am scared, because more then likely he knows that works, instead when he says that, tell him your sorry he got scared and mommy is right down the hall if you need her, and tell him to go back and lay down.

Do not lay down with him to begin with and if he gets out in the middle of the night put him back.

Answer 4

well my cousin is 8 nd she sleeps with her mum  but my auntie babys her but u could ummmm read a happy story 2 him nd then say if he doesn't sleep on his own u will tell every1 in his class he sleeps with his mum lol

Answer 5

give him a sleeping bag

1st night put him in ur bed

2nd night put him on the floor right next to ur bed

3rd night move 1 sleeping bag space over

do this until u have reached his bed

if it doesnt work try therapy/ or his doctor maybe something really is wrong probly not but hey it doesnt hurt to try...good luck

Answer 6

...assuming nothing negative has happened to him you don't know about?  Just typical kid a bit spoiled without rules boundaries and limitations regarding bedtime?

What does HE say as to why he's scared?  (not enough info in your question to know answer)

(Not that any of the majority of these mom's are not right-on...I would just rule out the most critical -before I later found out that I handled his molestation with a glass of water and a night light.)

Answer 7

Do you have a dog or a cat that can sleep in the room or on the bed with your son?  My sister did this with my nephew. She let the dog to sleep in his room and he felt more protected. If not maybe take him to pick out a special blanket or pillow to sleep with like a big body pillow, or maybe even a Webkinz.  Also talk to him. Try to find the root of the problem. To find out why is he afraid to sleep alone and why he is waking up in the middle of the night. . Kids tend to not volunteer this info so you have to ask. If this doesn't work try talking to the pediatrician. Maybe he/she can give you some helpful advice.

My son had the same problem between the ages of 4 and 7.

He too is 9,  but luckily grew out of this habit.  At times, I read him stories before bed, I bought a light up moon to go on his wall, and sometimes allowed him to keep the T.V. on in his room and I shut it off when he fell asleep. We would watch movies before bed and I would tell him that he had to stay in his room after it was over. It was tough but eventually it all worked out.

I wish you the best of luck! You'll find something that works :-)

Answer 8

What if for every three days or so he sleeps ALONE you will buy him a new toy and you can keep adding up the days.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 9

You need to be firmer. He is 9 and is playing you like a violin. Give him a glass of ice water, a night light and a good book to read and tell him if he wakes up get a drink and read until he is ready to sleep again. Do not let him manipulate you any longer. He is a big boy now and you need to be firm for his sake.

Answer 10

So you've been doing this for 9 years?

Get him a night light. Put him to bed and leave without laying down. If he comes into your room, send him back.  Yeah, he's going to be unhappy. Time for tough love.

Answer 11

what if you try giving him a walkie talkie so if he gets scared he can talk to you on it?

or you could try sitting by his bed instead

and every few nights once hes used to it move the chair away a little bit more.

otherwise you will just have to throw him in the deep end and tell him no more.

good luck

Answer 12

give him a night light and a big teddy bear. it might comfort him.

Answer 13

well maybe he having trouble getting the hang of sleeping /w u give him a few days to get use to him sleeping alone and all ur promblem will be solved