My 4 yr old boy suddenly won't stay in his own bed at night. He doesn't act scared but simply insists that he has to sleep with us. No amount of soothing, being logical, threatening (you will stay in your bed or else) seems to be working. He's never had a problem before and during the day says he wants to be a big boy and stay in his bed. We don't want to lock him in his room (neighbors suggestion) as this will wake his sister who needs her sleep. Any ideas? (I'v tried going through the room during the day to exercise any monsters or demons - to no avail!)
We have that issue with my daughter, she gets up very early (5 am) and won't go back to bed. We got her a Wake Me Up Puppy alarm clock and told her she's not allowed out of bed till her puppy barks. She also earned tokens for staying in bed all night, then she can use the tokens to buy things (gum, tv show, 5 tokens to sleep with mom & dad, etc). It's worked pretty well.
Our son is doing that now. Sometimes we let him stay. We just threaten taking away toys with our son. It usually works. I also got him a night light in his room that changes colors, & he seems to really like that.
Can you lay down with him in his bed till he falls asleep. My son rarely sleeps through the night. Usually needs to go potty. I take him back to his bed crawl in and go back to sleep with him or wait for him and then I go bacl to our room.
Last night he did wake up and come to our room at 3:00am and said "Mommy I woke up and came in here". He seemed proud of himself for being big and not scared. I let him get in bed with me. (Were expecting #2 in a few weeks and I kind of want him to come in our room, without a fuss, to help ease the new "Mommy cant come" phase).
I would just take hime back to his room and say goodnight again. Try not to talk to him too much. Its probably just a phase that will go away soon.
Good luck and good night,
TL
Hi G.,
My little boy went through the same thing. We ended up hitting the dollar bin at Target/Walmart and loading up on cheap toys.
We put the toy on his dresser and told him if he stayed in bed all night he could have the prize in the morning.
This seemed to work real well, and no longer have a problem with bedtime.
Best of luck!
C. Roeschen
Keller Williams
The Trinity Group
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Try making a pallet on your floor. Tell your son that he can sleep on your floor, but is not allowed to sleep in your bed. Be sure to not make the floor a comfy place to sleep. He may decide that his bed is a much better place to be.
I second the pallet on the floor idea. This teaches them that you are always there for them, but with in limits that protect your most important relationship..you and daddy!! Sometimes my 4 yr old daughter comes in and doesnot even wake us up, we just find her on the floor in the morning. It works for us, and she has not made a bad habit out of it...even if she does it for a year, she will outgrow it I know (and move on to another annoying little habit, but that is life!) ~A.~
