Having a hard time getting my son to go to sleep on his own rather then being rocked...any tips?

Marisa - posted on 03/04/2011

I liked the Baby whisper version. Check the book for sure they she has you wean out of the room. Like you are on the ege of the bed now. Next bring a chair in and sit in it away from the bed, then sit in the doorway, then in the hall. This takes a couple of weeks. How old he anyway? I also suggest you don't interact with him after a certain point. It does take about 20 minutes of book.down time. Then get your homework and say i will stay in here, but you have to be quiet. Of course that only works if they are a bit older and understand that. Sometimes I give my kids CALM - a homepathic syrup. Sometimes they goes though wide awake phases. They might help as you transition.

Amanda - posted on 03/03/2011

I think Yvonne got that all covered and I will have to try that with my own son! He's 19 months and I can not!! get him to go to sleep in his own bed by himself AT ALL! I have been looking for a big boy bed for him but it is just so expensive! :( Good luck Teena! and Thanks again Yvonne!

Yvonne - posted on 03/03/2011

I would say your problem started because you've always rocked him to sleep He's a movement baby, and won't sleep because you've left him which he isn't used too. You should watch Supernanny, she's great with bedtime routines (Sat or Sun am E4 i think).
Baically its something like this.
Tell them its bed time in so many minutes and that you'll take him to bed and read him a book and then its time to sleep, that mum has other things to do. Keep to that time, and then when its time do your bedtime routine - clean teeth, wash face, toilet, then explain that you will read 1 book and then its time to sleep. No more books. Don't ever give in, you'll loose and he's always won and will play on it everynight,
Once you've read the 1 book, you then say its time to sleep, and that they must stay in bed. Kiss, cuddle, and leave. Leave a little light on if he needs one, not a full light.
He will play up as you've explained so stay out of his sight away from bedroom. When he gets out of bed, go back in and put him back into bed, tell him again its bedtime and time to sleep. Leave again, stay out of sight. He'll get up again, so repeat. Don't say anymore except Its bedtime, time to go to sleep.
Do not get into a coversation with him. Do not give in to another book, do not give in to sitting on his bed till he's gone to sleep. Do not give in to his crying and paddies.
After a few times of him getting out and you telling him its bedtime, you just go back in, pick him up and put him back to bed with no words. Ignore him. Everytime from then. Ignore him, he won't like but he'll understand that you won't give in.
I've done this with my little girl since she was about 1 and a half - persistant little thing she was. We did this for weeks and weeks. She screamed the house down. At first it lasted a good hour, but it got less and less as the nights went by. I would stand just outside her door and as soon as i heard her out of bed i was straight there to put her back in again, after about the 5th time she never got out of bed because she knew that as soon as her feet touched the floor i would be there to put her straight back in.. She cried a lot but i never gave in. She gave in in the end. Sometimees she'd give in and i'd leave her then and go downstairs, but i'd hear her on the stairs - pushing her luck, but she soon leanrt that i wasn't having this either.
She's now 3 years old and she understands that if she's not tired then she can read a few books to herself, but she is not allowed out of her room.
Its hard work, its tiring, and he will push your buttons to the point where you will want to give into him - but as soon as you do you'll be back to where you are now. Persist, be patient and be strong. You will get there is you follow the rules, you won't if you give in.,
Best of luck
Yvonne