how do you get your child to sleep on their own?

Question

In reference to another question,
I had always allowed my kids to hop in with us if they had a bad dream or were not feeling well, bad thunderstorm and well my girls just stopped on their own.

However my son is now 9! and I cant seem to break him out of the habit.

More often then not- I wake up to find him in our bed.
He is getting to big to sleep in our bed...Especially since we are in a Queen- he moves all over...
I used to wake up in the middle of the night to find him in our bed, For no reason, no bad dream, I would pick him up and put  him back in his bed

Now, he has gotten smart. So I don"t feel him climb in our bed I wake up in the morning to find him on my husbands side (or at the foot of the bed or on the floor with his comforter,  ( this is 4-5 nights a week) and of course dad never feels him climb in bed

I have tried telling him he is a big boy and doesnt need to sleep with mom and dad, unless he has a bad dream or there is a big storm, we got him a night light too and yet no go, we have even talked to him about being scared of the dark, hence the nightlight and we leave the bathroom light on.

I am having a "B&*tch of a time getting him to sleep in his own bed. I want to know some more ideas on how to break the habit..

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Shadow · Accepted Answer

I would suggest bonuses for sleeping in his own bed. Like extra time on a game or after sleeping in his own bed for a whole week he gets some kind of new toy or a new game. Maybe even try he gets to pick out a restaurant to eat out at, when he sleeps in his own bed for the week. or get him ice cream. There are all kinds of treats you could use. Including giving him a couple of dollars in allowance to spend however he wants when he sleeps in his own bed.

On the other side of that when he doesn't sleep in his own bed take a privilege away. Or if he gets soda make him drink water instead, or reduce his tv time.

Hope any of that helps

Momof4 · Answer

mmm... maybe if you tried sleeping with him in his room for a couple of nights??? he could sleep in his bed and you could bring in an air mattress or couch cushions or something. That way he could get used to sleeping in his bed without having to leave you. You could also try a bribe... I know that it's generally not a good thing, but let's face it, they sometimes work. Tell him that if he can go two weeks, or a month, or whatever you choose, then you'll take him out for ice cream, or you'll buy him something... or something... you know better than I would.

radke · Answer

My husband and I also are slowly weaning our 17 month historic off of sharing our mattress with us. It will likely be rough to start with. What labored for us is first get him used to going to sleep in his possess mattress, so he would possibly not be startled if he wakes up in it. Slowly begin growing the time that he sleeps in his possess crib, however allow him become a member of you on nights that he's relatively fussy or no longer feeling good. Unless our son is depressing with teething, he will sleep in his possess mattress from 8pm till approximately 5am, then he comes and snuggles in our mattress for a couple of extra hours earlier than waking. It works effectively, everybody sleeps greater and we nonetheless experience being competent to snuggle with him a little bit within the morning.

Hope · Answer

Hmmmm... Maybe you should... Give him a teddy bear? Tell him that the teddy bear will keep you safe all threw the night.

Anonym · Answer

Put him in his room, and make him stay.
Tough love.

how do you get your child to sleep on their own?

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