My daughter is afraid...?

Question

my daughter, madison (who is two years old), is afraid to go to bed by herself. we just got her a "big girl bed" and we paid a lot of money for it. we've had it for two months. she didn't even take a nap in it nor sleep in it yet. we put gates up and everything and nothing seems to work. can you give me some suggestions?

Answer 1

I think that may be a little too young for a big girl bed still.  did you get her a twin size matress or did you go with a toddler bed.

If you haven't then just go to wal*mart and buy a cheap toddler bed until she's ready for her real big girl bed.

or go back to the crib until she's ready.

Answer 2

Make her new bed part of her bedtime routine.  Even if she isn't going to be expected to fall asleep in her new bed, perhaps you two can sit in the bed and read a bedtime story together.  After she falls asleep, pick her up and put her in her new bed.  She will no doubt be a little disoriented and perhaps a little scared when she wakes up in the bed, but the more often she wakes up there, the more comfortable and less intimidating the bed will become to her.  Make sure that she is placed in the bed with any and all of her comfort items (special dolls, blankets, etc.).  

When I switched my oldest from crib to bed, he refused to sleep in it.  I would let him fall asleep and then put him in the bed so he would wake up there.  He went through a few weeks of adjustment - he even slept on the floor next to the bed for a week or so!!  But eventually, he accepted the bed and the big boy feeling that went along with it.

Maybe you two can play on the bed, read on the bed, get her changed on her bed, or even let her put one of her babies down for a nap in her big bed - these things might also help.  One thing to be certain NOT to do is use the bed as a timeout place.  If your daughter begins to associate the bed with punishment, she'll likely turn away from it longer and feel more uncomfortable in it.  She'll have a negative association with the bed and get irritable & apprehensive about it.  But if you keep it positive, be creative and patient - you'll make it.  Your daughter is acting normally and won't shy away from her big girl bed forever.  Good Luck!

Answer 3

2 is a still a little young for some kids to be in a big girl bed. Can you do the crib for a little longer or is that no longer available?

Try to ask her what is bothering her. Maybe she will just tell you exactly the issue and you can fix it! It could be as simple as she liked that musical aquarium attached to her crib or she misses her blankets she used to have...

I suggest not getting into the habit of sleeping with her or having her in your bed every night. That will be a harder habit to break!

Try putting her to bed and lay next to her to read her a few books. Tuck her in, kiss her good night. Make going to bed a peaceful, happy experience for her.  

Answer 4

yea maybe give her a small bed

Answer 5

yeah!!!!!!! It might be!!!!!  

Answer 6

when i was younger my mother use to have to sleep with my little brother and sister because they would not sleep alone.

so i suppose your only resort is to go to sleep with her. or lie down with her and talk her through it and end up leaving

but DO NOT make a habit out of sleeping with her every night

my brother was 8 and my sister was 10 when my mom stopped sleeping with them. yeah, it was a terrible habit.

Answer 7

With my son i used to put him to bed when he was very tired, tell him a story and always reassured him that whenever he needed me-he just had to call me and i'll be there. He felt safe and rarely called me during the night