When is your child old enough to put theirselves to sleep?

Question

Hello. My daughter turned 2 June 7th. She has the brains and personality of a 3 year old. She is very independant and social at the same time. I was only curious, how young is too young to let your child put them selves to sleep. My husband or I usually go in to her room with her, give her a drink of her sippy and then lay down with her until she falls asleep. This isnt a bad thing, but sometimes it takes 10 mins and sometimes an hour to get her to sleep, then one of us miss our who night. So is there anything to help with this please? Thank you!

Answer 1

It's actually not a good idea to lay with her till she falls asleep every night.  That way she is relying on you WAY too much to fall asleep.  My boys would put themselves to sleep as early as 3 months.  I would put them in their crib when I could tell they were visibly tired, and they learned to lull themselves to sleep.  By staying in there with your daughter, you are missing out on YOUR time, and not doing her any favors.  You can go in there and snuggle for a few minutes, but set a bedtime and stick to it.  She will learn, but you have to be consistant.

Answer 2

My baby (8 weeks) puts herself to sleep. I lay her in the crib, she oohs and ahhs for a couple of minutes and then she is asleep. My other kids (2 & 5) go to their room when it's bed time and all I do is kiss them and say good night. They change into PJs and cover themselves up. You just have to teach her, but be consistant. Good luck

Answer 3

It's probably about time you started helping her move into falling asleep on her own.  But it's going to take some time, some willpower on your part and some willingness to go through some hassle.

First, figure out what seems to be working the best in terms of getting her to sleep fast in terms of a routine, and prepare to use it every night.

Second, put her in her bed, but DO NOT LAY DOWN with her.  Tell her in a soft, quiet voice that she is going to go to sleep like a big girl.  She'll fuss and squall, but don't budge.  Sit on the floor next to her bed, but don't make eye contact.  Just sit there.  Don't respond to her fussing.  If she gets out of bed, put her back gently but firmly.

Once she is settled and hasn't gotten out of bed for 15 minutes, scoot a few feet away from  her.  If she squalls, ignore it.  If she gets out of bed, put her firmly but gently back in bed and go back to your new position.  

Keep scooting forward every 15 minutes or until she is asleep.  You'll have to do this for a few nights, and then you can start your "first position" a few feet away from her, and keep extending your "first position" until you have her in bed and you are leaving the room.

This method worked really well with both of my kids.

Answer 4

she should be just fine at that age. most children can put themselves to sleep as little as a few months old in their cribs. try sitting with her in the room or read her a few stories in bed with her, rub her back for a few mins then leave. eventually she will just go to bed when told...HOPEFULLY :)

Answer 5

You need to get her to fall asleep in her own. She well old enough. My daufhtrts have been falling asleep

themselves since about 2 months old.

Answer 6

I'm not sure if I understand.  If you mean, stop laying down with her and she will fall asleep on her own - then yes.  STOP laying down with her.  That should have stopped at age 1 day.  I am so against parents who do this, because down the road they will have major problems getting their child to sleep "on their own" then they ask for advice.  My daughter is 2 1/2 and the bedtime routine is (1) bath and pjs (2) read books (3) snuggle on the rocking chair for less than 5 minutes (4) place in bed and kisses goodnight (5) leave the room. (6) TIME FOR MYSELF.

Answer 7

i have has my daughter putting her self to sleep since she was 4 months at first for about 10 days she would cry now she knows at 7 months when she goes in her crib its bed time, the routine is bath, book and bottle then crib, i don't let my baby fall asleep with a bottle because she'd make a mess and i don't think that's good for her teeth.

Answer 8

Any age

Answer 9

I agree with life is good.  

Dont stay in her room with her until she falls asleep.  

My babies were put in the crib at bedtime (9PM) every single nite and they went to sleep from the time they were able to roll over.

Your the one who will make her not be able to sleep.  She will begin to want you in her room every nite and your setting yourself up for a disaster, your developing a habit which is a bad one.