3 yr old will not fall asleep on her own

[tired mother]

My three year old refuses to fall asleep on her own, in her own bed. Every once in a while she will but that usually only happens when she is dead tired. What can I do to help her to fall asleep in her own bed and not come in mommy and daddy's room in the middle of the night?

[SurferChick1]

First of all, find out why she hates being alone in her bed...lack of light, uncomfortable bed, radiator making scary noises??? If it's just a case of being three years old, then...apologies to liken your little princess to a dog.....but you need to use the same principles used in dog/animal training. Your child is pushing the limits to see what she can get away with and needs to be shown that she is NOT pack leader!

When she comes in to the room, pick her up without saying a word, put her in her bed and go back to yours...

REPEAT AND REPEAT AND REPEAT until she learns who is in charge. Do not scold or comfort in any way, just be strong and THIS WILL WORK!!!

ALL THE BEST X

[wallis1007]

Surferchick1 hit the nail right on the head.My daughter used to be the same. Every night, the crying, moaning,excuses,in fact everything and anything not sleep in her own bed. It is a lot easier to let them get in your bed so you can have some peace. But that is so the wrong thing to do. I decided one night it had to stop, I must have taken her into her own room twenty times that night. Over the next few nights it got less and less, it lasted about a week I suppose. But I won, I am the boss. NEVER let them beat you you will lve to regret it. Good luck.

[AnnieJ515]

Hi tired mother, I have been there and I am actually starting all over again. I have a 4 year old boy and a five week old baby. I did Babywise with my son ( a really flexible version) and he has never had a problem with goingto bed when I say and he sleeps the whole night. With the exception of my pregnancy. For some reason he would wander into our room in the middle of the night and want to sleep with us. I never once let him. I always walked him back to his room. Nevertheless, he is very strongwilled and this continued for a very long time-weeks. A sticker chart finally helped. Everymorning he had not gotten out of bed he got a stcker. After two or three he got a small prz then a larger one the more nights that went by. THis worked!!!!! I also would talk to him about not getting up as I was tucking him in. Maybe you can modify this to falling asleep in her own bed. Do you have a special night time routine with her. If nto try to create on. I know I read two or three short stories and then I turn off the light. I will then tickle his back for about 2 minutes and then I give him kisses and hugs. I think he actually likes the one on one time I give him in this routine. Make goingto bed a special time for you and her and maybe she will cozy up to the idea. I agree with the night light too. Have her pick it out. Good luck.

[len_1]

ditto what has already been said... kind of.

Put her to sleep. when she is tucked in tell her that you're just going to do something (like brush your teeth/wash up, whatever) and say you'll be back in a few minutes... leave say ten or fifteen minutes then go back. It'll take sticking to or she might do it straight away.. but there will be a night that she'll be asleep before you get back. If she's not asleep when you check.... stay for a minute then do the same thing again only with a bigger gap. If she gets out of bed before you come back. Just put her back to bed but don't say anything to her.

If she gets up through the night... as said before. Don't talk to her... just keep putting her back. It feels never ending but after a few nights of it she won't be getting up.