How to you help a four old not to feel loney at night and come into your bed?

Sally - posted on 07/15/2009

Ive got 5 kids and everyone of them started off in our bed, to get them to sleep in their own bed when the time felt right we got them to help us make a sleep chart. They got to choose the color cardboared they wanted and added special stickers, we then hung it on their bedroom wall and if they slept in their own bed all night they got a star on their chart. At the end of the week if they had all their stars they got to choose a small treat.(mine mostly chose macca's).It really worked and after a few weeks the chart came down.Occasionally one of them will have a nightmare and i dont ever deny them to sleep in our bed, but it doesnt happen very often. Good luck....

Jo - posted on 07/12/2009

It will mean less sleep for you for a while, but my daughter started doing this when she graduated to a toddler bed. Some nights she would come into our room 2-3 times. I never let her climb in with us, I always took her back to her own room. She also has a bear that plays a heartbeat-from-the-womb sound, and she used that to sleep until she was almost 5.

Ashley - posted on 07/12/2009

Quoting Kammi:

Try to find them a special blanket or stuffed animal that has amazing protection powers. I have also tried the stuffed animals that have a heart beat and that reminds them of you all night
Kammi
Moms helping Moms
www.internetceomoms.com/kammicorman

For the love of God do NOT lie to her and tell her that  stuffed animals/blankets have "super powers". For starters, you never want to lie to your children,it teaches them to lie and makes them distrust you.  Number two, what will happen when she loses that  animal/blanket? and her "protection"is gone?  For my oldest two boys, I started the "big boy club". We had club rules/rituals. If they would go to their beds, they could pick a snack at quiet time then when it was time for bed, we would read a book, sing a song and say our prayers then they could put a sticker on a chart I made. Their efforts were great to stay there. They would and still do come in sometimes. One thing I did was make thier room cozy, no tv's etc. It is their quiet sleeping place. One time my son just wanted to be near me and talk.  I told him that a lot of other animals besides us were  awake  that night. I named them for him and told him what they do and sound like and told him to go to bed and listen for them and with his eyes closed try to see if he could figure out which ones they were and I would do the same thing,then in the morning we would discuss what we heard. They just plain need you sometimes. Just to know you are there. Them coming to your bed will not happen forever but until it's over, enjoy every little moment. Some of the best talks I've had with my boys have been in the middle of the night.

Leila - posted on 07/12/2009

Depends on your child and your needs. You can slowly wean by letting your child sleep on a toddler bed in your room and then end up eventually transferring to his/her own room with a special new bed or blanket or something that works. I've coslept with my girl until recently, and I started out with the two seperate beds in one room. We still sometimes end up together, anyway- such as stormy nights when she's scared, etc. My sister's kids would often go back to sleeping with her during major family transitions, etc, so it hasn't suprised me to end up continuing cuddly nights. I am, however, biased towards co-sleeping! I think that given how vulnerable small children are, it's a biological response to be afraid to be alone at night and logic (meaning our houses are safe, we hope) doesn't have anything to do with instinct.

Jodie - posted on 07/12/2009

Thanks I will try that.

Kammi - posted on 07/12/2009

Try to find them a special blanket or stuffed animal that has amazing protection powers. I have also tried the stuffed animals that have a heart beat and that reminds them of you all night

Kammi

Moms helping Moms

www.internetceomoms.com/kammicorman