when shuld i make my daughter sleep in her room?

Jessica - posted on 11/23/2009

My son sleeps with me and my husband too. But he's currently having nightmares/night terrors so we let him. He does fall asleep on the couch or our bed, we move him to his but he doesn't stay in it very long (maybe two hours). I'm figuring once he outgrows his this phase he's in and starts pre-k next year he'll begin to sleep in his own bedroom. He loves to snuggle with me so I don't mind:0) I use to care but it doesn't bother me much anymore. You could try letting her sleep on the floor in your room and gradually moving that bed out of your room (each night moving it closer to the door) into her room.

Kathie - posted on 11/18/2009

I hear you! My daughter will be 5 in January- our old house she would not sleep in her room, spare bedroom was fine- we moved in June- she loved her new room, slept in it every night- than she started a new daycare in September- now she falls asleep on the couch next me- gets put in her room and wakes up anywhere between midnight and 2:00am and either ends up in our bed or one of us goes with her back to her room- it's so hard- they need their sleep as well as we do- so where do we draw the line- maybe you can try the reward system- each night she sleeps in her room by herself the whole night gets $.25 or a mark and once she has made it so many nights gets to do something special- good luck!

Lanaya - posted on 11/17/2009

Have you talked to her Pediatrician? My daughter's Pediatrician made recommendations that I added spins on and she also reminded me every Kid is different just because it works for one doesn't mean it will work for all. But I highly recommend a consultation with the pediatrician.

First I placed a toddler bed in my room for several weeks just to break the habit. Then I transitioned the bed to her new room and I slept on the floor beside my daughters bed for a few nights so she was comforted in the transition, every time she woke up I was there. Then after about 2 nights I started off next to her till she fell asleep and then got in my bed. I sleep very LIght so when I hear her toss and turn ( if i had the energy) I would go to her and place my hand on her back till she went back to sleep or i would say out loud MOMMY is right here go back to sleep. Sometimes she still climbs in my bed in the middle of the night, sometimes I let her stay and sometimes I put her back in bed (especially since we are night potty training).

What ever decision that you make it should be gradual and firm. Stick to it. It will take a lot of patience, I didn't have very much so mine occurred in weeks.
My daughter is 3 and I feel that we are on our way to bed independence;-)

Kristina - posted on 11/17/2009

One product I can recommend is the Mobi glow buddy (not sure of the exact name of the product, but I got the brand right of the charger). It is a rechargable nightlight that is kind of in the shape of a person. It is safe for kids to take to bed with them like a stuffed animal and dims after a while so it's not invasively bright. It has made bed time much more comforting for my son. I have to say, we worry so much about making our kids be independent and I'm not sure that there is any plus to it. If you don't mind her coming to be with you, then you shouldn't feel like you have to make her leave. That said, if you need her out of your bed for your sanity (which I can totally relate to!!), then it is worth whatever you have to do to make her ok with the change.

The other thing that helped my son is that we got him a fun bed (Thomas the Tank Engine) and so he enjoys it more.

Liz - posted on 11/17/2009

How is it going?
My son was in our room from newborn until sept 08. Yes he was just over 6 yrs old. He really really wanted his aunt's waterbed(she was moving and not taking it with her) So I told him ok but u HAVE to sleep in ur room. Ok mom, and that was it. There r still some nights when he has a bad dream and comes in our room but I being him back in his and usally I fall asleep in there..lol.

Cristal - posted on 11/16/2009

ASAP it only gets harder to break them as they get older. My daughter slept with me till she was 6. Break the habit quick! LOL

Tasnim - posted on 09/30/2009

hey frends..l,s,q,t,m....thanx all of u 4 ur lovely advice..i ll keep in mind..tom is d-day..hop all works out well..keepin fingers crossd..

Monique - posted on 09/27/2009

Hi, My son was the same way. When he turn 5 I made him start sleeping in his own bed. My husband hated he was sleeping with us and it would cause a lot of argument. So what I did to make my son sleep in his bed is trun on the bath room light (bathroom is across from his room) and he sleep with his TV on. My husband don't believe in lights and TV on at night either, but oh well he will get over it. My son is 9 1/2 years old now. And he still get scare from time to time and want to sleep with me. I just tell him that mommie is here and won't let anything happen to him. Then he will go back to sleep. I still wonder when he will stop coming to me at night saying hes scare. I'm sure when he hit middle school in 2 years he will stop. Hope this help you out.

Synetha - posted on 09/27/2009

Tasnim, I feel your urgency! Just remember that #1 she is an only child, and you are her security blanket. It wasn't until my daughter was 5 years of age that she started to sleep in her room by herself, well with some help from mom that is. I would lay down with my daughter in HER OWN room in HER OWN bed until she fell asleep. I kept a night light on at night, so that it is NOT completely dark if she wakes in the middle of the night. Also, I let her sleep WITH either a doll baby or another stuffed animal of her choice. My daughter is now 7, and even though I sometimes still allow her to sleep with me, ultimately she sleeps in her own bed. I am NOW working on getting her to fall asleep on her own! lol

Tanya - posted on 09/27/2009

get her a night light and be firm when doing it. dont make a big deal about it all day long just at the end of the day say ok now it is time for the big girl to go to bed. she will resist but eventually she will get used to it if u make it routine every night. whatever u do dont back down and let her back in ur room in between because this will make her think it is still ok to go to ur room.

Billie - posted on 09/27/2009

Make a celebration out it. To take the dread out of it for her, make a special project out of it where you help her decorate the bed and the surrounding area. Then if she makes a week of sleeping in her new bed reward her with a little party or a very special treat. Good luck!

Lisa - posted on 09/27/2009

Hi Tasnim! I can only tell you the way I look at it, right or wrong who knows. My daughter if 4 1/2 and has been sleeping with me mosy everynight for the last 8 or 9 months. I let her. I feel that she must feel the need for some kind of security or reassurance for whatever reason, but I want in ingraned in her mind that I will always be there, she is welcome to come to me. It won't last forever, I know that, and before long she won't even want me on the same planet as her, much less same bed, so I want in ingraned in her mind that she can always come to me, and maybe when she's older and the things that scare you or keep you up at night become more real or serious, a part of her will remember mom's always there and come to me. This is just my way of thinking, and I'm sure others will find fault or why its not right, but it's what I believe. So, I let her sleep with me whenever she wants and know that this,too, like everything else, will pass. Hope that helps a little. Hope she has a wonderful birthday!!!!! Let me know how it goes! :)