How to Get Your Kid to Sleep in His Own Bed at Night Without Screaming
Getting your child to sleep in his own bed can be a difficult process. Many experts recommend that you do the cry-it-out method, but that can be difficult for both the child and his parents. You do not need to go this difficult route to successfully train your child to sleep in his own bed, however. It just takes work, persistence and time.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Set up a bedtime routine with your child. This can be a story, a song and a hug in your child's room, for example. This routine should begin at the same time every day. The regular structure will help your child prepare for bed, while a new routine can set new expectations.
-
2
Tell your child that he must sleep in his own. If he has slept in your bed on a regular basis up to this point, prepare him for the change by talking about it first.
-
-
3
Buy your child a new blanket, pillow or stuffed animal to celebrate the fact that he is now big enough to sleep in his own bed.
-
4
Sit in the room with your child while he falls asleep. This process is gradual, and the idea is to slowly work away from doing this. Spend a few days doing this. Once your child easily falls asleep with you in the room, move to the next step.
-
5
Wait for your child to fall asleep while you are sitting in the hall. You should still be visible to your child in the hall. This will help your child become comfortable with being alone in his room. Do this until you child is comfortable falling asleep on his own with you in the hall. This may take up to two weeks.
-
6
Begin going to your room or another area of the house while your child falls asleep. If your child gets up during this point, simply escort your child back to bed with no comment. Tuck him in, but do not sing another song or reward the behavior with a drink or a snack. In a few days, your child should be used to falling asleep on his own.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you have problems with the child staying in bed at night, you should immediately walk the child back to bed. You may need to sit with your child until he falls back to sleep the first few nights. If it is a persistent problem you may want to sleep in your child's room on the floor for a night or two, until he stops wandering into your room at night.
If your child expresses a fear of the dark or monsters, providing a nightlight or a flashlight can help. A new stuffed animal can also provide protection from scary nighttime monsters.
Consistency is the key to making this system work. If you slide backward, you may have to start the entire process over again.
References
- Photo Credit bed time image by anna karwowska from Fotolia.com
