10 Different Ways to Get Kids to Sleep in Their Own Beds

Getting a child accustomed to sleeping in his own bed can be a long, frustrating process. It can make for some long nights and heated arguments, so it’s useful to keep a few tips in mind when you’re in the midst of this epic struggle for mattress control and a good night’s sleep. The following are ten different ways to get kids to sleep in their own beds:

1. Bribe them – Incentive are a helpful aid. Offer the child some form of reward or privilege for spending a full night in his own bed. Treats, a later bed time, or a trip to a favorite ice cream shop could do the trick nicely.
2. Up their room’s “coolness” factor – Use appealing bedding (Batman, Barbie, etc.) and room décor. Make the kid’s room attractive enough that she’ll want to spend more time in there, and even feel more secure in it.
3. Provide small comforts – You may want to let the child fall asleep with the TV or a radio on at first to give them some soothing white noise, or let a family pet sleep in his room with him for an added dose of companionship.
4. Stay with them – If necessary, you can lie in the child’s bedroom on the floor or sit in a nearby chair until he falls asleep. You don’t want to sleep together if the idea is to wean the child into sleeping solo. That could be a step backward in the process.
5. Be firm – Your desire for an undisturbed night of sleep leaves you vulnerable to capitulation for the sake of getting some shut-eye. Don’t do it. If the child sneaks in during the night, escort her back to her bed calmly, yet firmly.
6. Put up a barrier – Consider the use of a child gate, either at her bedroom doorway or yours, to alleviate the likelihood of those wee-hours incursions. Get the point across that he is persona non grata in your bed, and needs to sleep in his own, period.
7. Make bedtime fun – Turn going to sleep into an enjoyable event when you’re putting them into their own beds for the night. Read bedtime stories, croon them to sleep with a sing-along or lullaby, and possibly even have a small family gathering for additional reassurance and positive reinforcement. It could be just what you need to do the trick.
8. Be consistent – Each time your child attempts to join you in the middle of the night, don’t let your weariness cause you to cave in and let him stay. Calmly yet firmly walk him back to his bed and tuck him back in. No more bedtime stories, glasses of water or lying down with him.
9. Be there in a small way – You might also consider leaving a little bit of yourself behind. That is, you could use one of your t-shirts as the child’s pillowcase or leave a stuffed animal from your room with her. A scent of you in the room might also help, in the form of your perfume/cologne. Providing some comforting form of yourself may be just what they need to fall asleep more easily on their own.
10. Tell them how grown up they’re being – Reinforce the message that big boys/girls sleep in their own beds. Tell them that to be treated like a big boy or girl and have the privileges that come with that status, then they have to show they can sleep all by themselves.

Taken From Nanny Jobs