Keeping My Kids in Bed!

Have you tried sitting in the boy's room after dark. Since both children are scared of the room, there may be a specific reason for it (i.e. noises coming out of air ducts, scary shadows from trees, etc). Do a little detective work. On the other hand, I have a 4 year old. She plays in the bed till she goes to sleep. My 7 year old did the same at that age. It's possible that he remembers his sister being afraid of the room and is mimicing her.

Girl your story sounds just like mines. Iam a 25y old mother of 3. They are 10 today, 4,and 3. I have 1 boy and 2 girls. My youngest daughter the 3 year old was like that. We would constantly direct her back to bed all nite, but 1 nite i prayed in her room and annointed her door with blessing oil. We go to churdch so she new exactly what I was doing. Then I went in her closet like a crazy woman just throwing stuff and acting like I was beating some monsters down. She was standing there saying "yeah kick butt mama". But see after that she slept in there with no problem. My husband whom I have bn with since 14 and have been married to for 7yrs(3/07) was in Iraq and I didnt want him coming home and bedtime being chaos so thats what I did. I actually seen it on Nanny 911 or Supernanny. Nevertheless it worked for me. If you decide to do it call me ###-###-#### and I can give you some pointers. I have been a member for not too long so I dont know if im supposed to give out my number or not. I dont know the "rules". Well hope all goes well for you

It could be because he saw how the girls reacted to sleep in there, so he thinks he needs to feel the same way....or it might have different sounds or noises then his other room. Why don't you spend the night in his room with him to hear for yourself what is going on? Also, My daughter would be afraid at night for various reasons and I would give her a bottle of monster spray...which was just water, but I would say it would keep everything scary away!!!! It could be a stage too, because my daughters have gone through that a bunch of times where it is rare that I am actually left alone at night time...( I tend to find a sleeping baby next to me in the morning ) I know I am not much help at all, but good luck! I know it can be aggravating!!! I have 3 girls and one on the way ... 6,3, 18 months :P

We've been dealing with this as well. My oldest - Jacob (3) has been getting up at night and coming into our room. When we try to put him back into his room he freaks. I know there are circumstances where co-sleeping cannot be avoided, especially with babies, but I need my sleep, my husband needs his sleep, and my idea of blissful slumber doesn't involve sharing a bed with my kids while they knee me, elbow me, and hog the bed covers.

Besides, it's bad enough that I'm apparently not going to get to sleep in for the next 18 years or so, as at least one of the boys insists on waking by 7 a.m. even on the weekends!

PS.-My hubby and I were 16 and 18 at marriage-11 years now!! kudos to you!!

This will more than likely be opposite advice than you have gotton in the past.
I have 4 kids now ages 11 10 7 and 6.
Alot of people do the make your kid stay in bed....make them cry themselves to sleep stuff.
i believe if a child needs or feels more comforted and can rest better sleeping with the parents it is perfectly fine.
My children slept with us until they were ready mentally to slep alone.
I never had to teach them to stay in bed. When they reached the age and maturity (usually around 4 or 5 ) that they were ready to sleep solo, they did so on thier own. Each child is different.-
I say let them stay with you until they are ready to move out. This way they won't be terrified of it. If they get frightened once, they will recount that memory every time they are in there alone!
My children sleep fine are are very independant sleepers now and are not scared of it.
You wouln't seperate a young foal from it's mother at night and make it cry itself to sleep and they are animals.. These are our babies. Let them as long as they need you.. There will be a time when they won't want to so enjoy!
As far as alone time with the hubby I have a solution..
What we did was let our daughter know if it was "special hugs and kisses night" That means Dad and I need a little "alone time" I would just tell her it's special hugs and kisses night so she needs to go watch tv in her bed, and when the door is opened up she is welcome to come back in. It worked perfect for us!
Good luck!
J. Marcy
memphis

You may think this sounds foolish, but if you are willing to try anything...this can't hurt. Sprinkle some rock salt(ice cream salt) around the window sills and around the outside perimeter of the house. You can let the kids know it is to protect them and keep them safe. If you don't believe in this sort of thing, it can have a psyhological effect and work for the children.

Wait until a Friday or Saturday night (when you or your husband might be able to squeeze in a nap the next day) Sleep outside the door & intercept him on the way to your room. Tuck him back in, quick kiss and leave. Every time. All night. It's awful, but I can attest to the results. You just have to gut it up one or two nights in a row. It took us 2 nights.