What is the easiest way to teach a child to sleep in their own room??

Question

My daughter is 6 years old and still sleeps with us. She has her own room and her own bed but she doesn't want to sleep by herself. How can we teach her to not be scared and sleep on her own?

Answer 1

If it is monsters or something else she is complaining about being afraid of, try some "Monster spray." Just put some water in a spray bottle and add a label with "Monster spray" You can tell her it keeps the monsters away if she sprays it once before bed. Try giving her some stuffed animals to sleep with or maybe even a pet if you want some. Tuck her in every night. Try doing some cute little sayings like, "Snug as a bug in a rug" Or "Burrito baby" Read her a story until she falls asleep in her bed and if she gets back up go back in there and lay her down and lay with her until she falls back asleep. If you don't want to do that you can try putting in a movie to watch until she falls asleep. You can do the sticker trick, it works for potty training. Or you can just continue to put her back into her own bed.

Answer 2

While you show her that it is acceptable for her to sleep in your bed, she will continue to do it. She will only stop sleeping in your bed when you take control as the parents and adults in the situation, and teach her that she must sleep in her own bed.

Put her in her bed at night. Tell her that she is to stay in bed or she will get a smack. If she gets up, follow through with giving her a smack, and putting her back into her bed.

If you do not believe in smacking, just put her into her bed at night, and tell her with a firm word that she must stay in bed. If she gets up, firmly tell her that she must stay in her bed, and put her back. You could reward her if she can go to bed and stay there without getting out for the whole night (except toileting).

Continue to do this until she learns that it is unnacceptable not to sleep in her bed. She needs consistency and clear boundaries.

Answer 3

Tell her that it is time for her to be a big girl and that she isn't allowed in your bed anymore. Tuck her in and tell her goodnight and then leave.

Answer 4

There is no easy way.   I used rewards with my older child.  Every time he stayed in his bed all night I gave him a sticker on his reward chart.  Once he got enough stickers he got a treat.  Like 100 sticker+ a trip to chuckie cheese.  If it's the dark she is afraid of, try an aquarium.  My son loved his and it works a a  night light.  He would lay in bed and watch the fish until he fell asleep.  We did this when we moved into a new house and he was  having problems adjusting.  If she is not genuinely afraid, then she is just manipulating you and  you will have to put your foot down.  It make take a few  nights of tears ( on both ends), but you need to stay strong and  she needs to be in her own bed.  Tuck her in, read a story and explain to her t hat she is a big  girl and she needs to stay in her bed.   Keep puting her back in as often as you need to until she gives up.

Answer 5

my sisters friend has the same problem. her parents are getting her something she really wants if she can do it for x amount of days

Answer 6

She will only be a little kid for such a short time, why not let her sleep with you until she is ready to be alone.  In other countries it is very normal to have a family bed.  She probably may only want to sleep in your bed for a short time longer, cherish this time.  Good luck and remember, each day is a blessing, our children are our greatest gifts.

Answer 7

Tell her she can no longer sleep in your room and she must sleep in her room.  If she doesn't have one already, get her a nightlight.  Also, buy a sound machine that plays gentle, pleasant sounds like crickets or rain.  It is very soothing. If she tries to get into bed with you then just walk her back to her bedroom and tell her she is to stay in her own room.  You may have to do this several times and she will probably try everything in the book to get back in bed with you but stick to your guns.  If you are consistent she should be sleeping in her bedroom within a week.

Answer 8

When you figure it out let me know.  My 5 year old is doing the same thing.  He goes to bed on his own but wakes up every night and comes in our bed.  He is so sneaky now I don't even know when he is in our bed.

Answer 9

You could start sleeping in her bed with her until she falls asleep.  If she wakes in the middle of the night, and tries to climb into bed with you, get up and go back to bed in her bed until she falls asleep again.  I did this for a couple of weeks and the intrusions into my bed got fewer and farther between.  I also noticed that when I shut her night light OFF, she stopped waking up at night, and or was able to fall asleep on her own more quickly.  Hope this helps.  Good Luck.

Answer 10

My son is 5..... your not the only one!

lol....

Answer 11

Just tell her that it is time for her to become a big girl and sleep in her own bed.  Leave a night light on in her room.  I use 2 in my daughters room, put all her favorite animals and pillows on the bed, plus any favorite blanket.  Lay with her for 5 minutes and tell her a sweet bed time story.  Then leave the room.  She might cry or scream, but she will eventually fall asleep.  That is what we did with my daughter.  I even laid with her for the first week, until she fell asleep.  Then I snuck out and went to my own room.  That helped alot too.  Good luck!

Answer 12

tie her to the bed.

she'll get over it.

mollycoddling will only make the situation worse.