How can I get my two year old to sleep in her own room?

Kelsey - posted on 12/15/2009

I dont have a two year old, but I saw a parenting show on tv and they said to first teach them to be proud of their "big kid" room by dressing it up a bit with something they like such as a dora beadspread for example. I do realize that may be more for older kids, but it cant hurt. You can also just simply giver her no choice. She will throw a fit for hours and maybe even days, but she will eventually realize she cant manipulate the situation. If you feel too mean doing that you can always try bribing! ;) It might also help to make her room a little more comforting by adding a nighlight and some quiet music. It might also help to spend the first night or two laying in there with her till she falls asleep. I dont know if this would work for a 2 year old, but you can try a rewards system and give her a sticker every night she sleeps in her room like a big girl and when she get however many of them she will get a surprise. I think thats probobly over a 2 year olds head, but wasnt sure.

Christina - posted on 12/14/2009

Quoting Christina:

How can I get my two year old to sleep in her own room?

She still sleeps in the room with me and my fiancee but we have an extra bed in our room for her. She also has a room of her own but doesn't like to sleep in it. Me and my fiancee wants to have our privcacy from her but she's always in the next bed beside us. Please somebody help.!!!!!

 

 

Thanks for everyone's help. But I think I finally got her to sleep in her room. At least I hope. But night before last when she fell asleep me and my fiancee put her into her own room. Now last night, she was a wake so I figure she's gonna want to sleep in the room with us....don't you guys know that my two yr old daughter cried because she wanted to sleep in her own room in her own bed and I put her in the room and for a lil while she was calling me but I didn't go to her. After while I got up and checked on her and she was sleep. And the same thing tonight. She fell asleep on the chair and I placed her in her own room. Thank you guy's so much. All of you were a big help in someway. Thank u.

Lauren - posted on 12/13/2009

I agree with Marie.... It worked for my son!
Though i would also take the extra bed out of your room, and explain to her that "big girls" have there own room (if she has older cousins/friends use them as examples). Depending on if you have enough space perhaps start by putting it in the hall or even as a 2nd bed in her room (maybe its also a difference in the bed that she prefers).
Best of luck

Ann - posted on 12/13/2009

My daugther had the same problem I just sat in the room with her for one night talked to her a little telling her this is her room and this is where she sleeps! bacially just sat with her until she fell asleep.. hope this helps but make sure u have a night light=)

Marie - posted on 12/13/2009

I don't like televison answers most of the time, but this one works. We found the answer to that on Supernanny. It is her tried and true method. do your normal routine, then put her in the bed you want her in and sit next ot her bed(floor, chair whatever). once she's there, it's a no more talking policy. period. shhhhh is the only thing you say. you stay there and reinforce the fact that it is bedtime by putting them back if they try to get out or laying them down if they sit up. don't engage with them at all. (only one potty break if needd, otherwise it's a game). then you wait there until they are sleeping or youKNOW they are going to stay put.

you do the same thing the next night, except you move your sitting spot a little closer to the door and away from them. Repeat this until you are sitting in the hallway just outside the room. make sure to stay there this night so if they come out they stumble into you and don't think they don't have to follow the same rules still. then you just let them think you are in the hallway from then on. once they figure out you're not, you just reinforce that they have to stay anyway by not talking and putting them back in. We have 5 kids. only 2 had this issue, but it worked. it was a little more passive than i like, but if it works, it works. make sure to take a book or crossword or something with you for when you are sitting there. it can be quite easy to get distracted by your kid and end up interacting with them when they should be trying torest and sleep. it's a no talking policy completely once they are down. Ideally this only takes 3 or 4 nights to accomplish, but it can take longer. In some extreme case a couple of weeks. Either way, it's well worth it!

Sophia - posted on 12/13/2009

HEY well we had the same problem but my mother in law helped me out with this one. as hard as this will be u have to make sure she has a full belly when going to bed as well as a good bath and a clean diaper lay her in her room in her bed with a nite light or if she has a t.v in her room put it on a timer mayb like an hour and tell her its nite nite time and close the door she will catch a fit but the more fits she do will make her tired and she will go to sleep this histerical crying went on for my son for about two weeks i dreaded nite time but it works now he goes to his room and cuts on the tv and gets in the bed on his own i be like where is mari and he b already sleep trust me on this one it works now mommy dont keep going in the room now she will eventually go to sleep and just know in your head its not killing her u just teaching her. good luck.

Melissa - posted on 12/13/2009

is it a todldler bed that is in your room? with my little girl she didnt want to sleep in her big bed, so we had to get a toddler bed and put it next to her big bed, it might take a while for her to sleep in her own room by her self, have you tryed moving her to her own bed once she has fallen a sleep in. So you can have your room back to your slef. good luck with everything

Sophia - posted on 12/13/2009

My son was about that age when i started making him sleep in his own room too. It was really hard but one night i just decided to make him and i put him in his bed, turned a night light on, played lullabies and shut the door. he cried and cried for like 5 minutes but i just left him there and later when he was asleep checked on him. I had to do that for the first few nights and then he was fine sleeping in his own room. I hope this helps, good luck!