How to Get Toddlers to Stay in Bed
Creating a healthy sleep habit begins as early as infancy. Yet infants tend to have sleep patterns that are irregular and inconsistent. Although there is no specific amount of sleep children need, as it varies greatly from child to child, most toddlers between the ages of 1 to 4 years old need from 10 to 13 hours of sleep. Getting the proper amount of sleep plays an important part in how physically calm and mentally alert the child is during the day. Various sleep problems occur in different stages of a child, but it is important to rectify them as early as possible to encourage a healthy sleep habit.
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Instructions
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Recognize the problem. Whether it is due to his fear of the dark or the feeling of being left out, a toddler generally knows why he prefers not sleep in his own bed. Asking him directly will not generate an answer. Instead, spend an afternoon painting or drawing, and let your child open up during this creative activity.
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Check the bedroom. A child may wake up in the middle of the night simply because she feels uncomfortable. The room may be too dark or too hot. Like adults, children need to be able to sleep in a comfortable setting with the proper amount of light and an agreeable temperature.
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Help him overcome his fears. Provide a nightlight if he is afraid of the dark. Make a show of checking for monsters under the bed and in the closet. This will validate the child's feelings and show that you believe him, leading him to trust you when you say the room is safe.
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Add transitional items. Give items like a stuffed animal or blanket to help her feel secure throughout the night. Look for age-appropriate beds with small rails that add visible reminders to stay in bed.
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Include all his bedtime requests as part of the bedtime routine. Oblige him by reading a story, singing a song and getting a glass of water; then allow him to make one last request, but make sure he knows it is the last.
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Offer positive reinforcement. Post a sleep chart in her bedroom, and offer her a sticker every night she sleeps in her own bed. At the end of the week, reward her with a small prize.
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Do not reinforce his behavior when he climbs into your bed. Most toddlers climb into their parents' bed in hopes of seeking attention. Be consistent, and do not engage him. Quietly lead him back to his own bed, and do this as many times as necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Help your child become comfortable with the dark by having him play in the dark during the day with a flashlight.
Provide a water spray bottle next to her bed to use on the monsters when she wakes up in the middle of the night.
Create a tape recording of his favorite song or a story that he can play when he is feeling scared or alone.
No matter how tired you may be, do not let your child sleep in your bed. Accepting this behavior just once will encourage it to happen again in the future.
