Getting them to stop coming in your room!

9
313

12 Jan 2012 10:06 AM
14 Aug 2005
Toronto

M_&_M
Addict
3,834

This has probably been posted before, but I don't remember seeing it in awhile.

My DD has started coming into our room EVERY night for the past 6 weeks. It could be 2, 3, 4, 5 or even 6 in the morning, but she always makes her way into our bed. I've tried to explain to her that everyone has to sleep in their own bed and I've tried to bribe her (don't judge lol) and nothing works.

Tips? Suggestions?

12 Jan 2012 10:11 AM
29 Aug 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

hockey_chick33
Devotee
2,385

We went through that, and DD still occasionally does it, but it's rare now.

I know we didn't help the situation, because on weekends we allowed her to come, if it meant we got to sleep in. Of course, she doesn't know the difference between a weekday and a weekend!

For Christmas she got a gro-clock, which indicates (by a sun) when she can come out of her room. If she does come to our room before "the sun is up", we remind her that it's still bedtime, and even though she will stomp and cry or scream, she does it while going back to her room and will stay there "most of the time" until the sun comes up on her clock. It's not a perfect solution, but it has helped quite a bit.

Good luck!

12 Jan 2012 10:20 AM
9 Aug 2006
Ottawa

Irish
Guru
16,552

Both of my LO's did it at exactly this age, DS is back in his own bed the last 3 nights after a couple of months of coming in (he's only a month younger than your DD).

YDD was super easy to sleep with, some mornings I'd just wake up and she'd be there...so we just let her until she decided she wanted to sleep in her own room again (which she did).

DS seemed to be more tired than usual lately...he's been off naps for a while (has them MAYBE a couple of times a week, tops) but putting him down for a nap the last few days has resulted in him sleeping in his own bed for the night. He was also scared of the dark so we got a brighter night light for when he's falling asleep (a sparkle lava lamp like thing). Don't know which helped but he's sleeping so I don't care!

12 Jan 2012 10:44 AM
22 Feb 2007
Yukon

sarahplusrich
Devotee
1,660

Here's an obvious answer...lock them in their room! You can get these door handle covers that go over the door andle from the inside to prevent little hands from opening it. You still can from the outside, so it's safe. We use it and get to sleep in until a decent hour now!

12 Jan 2012 10:54 AM
6 Apr 2011

Mom2Buttheads
Fan
569

Easy solution --- stop letting her! She will likely fight it. She may yell. She may scream. But eventually she'll learn that she needs to stay in her room and bed.

Just keep taking her back to bed. Your daughter is almost 4. She should understand the concept of staying in your bed by now.

If my daughter comes into our room, we just take her back to her bed, tuck her in and tell her to go back to sleep.

12 Jan 2012 11:03 AM
14 Aug 2005
Toronto

M_&_M
Addict
3,834

Sarahplusrich, I could never do that. She freaks if we even close the door. She likes her door a tiny bit open and she will fall asleep real easily knowing that her door isn't closed. I know that DH is the same way. He just sleeps better without our door closed, so I can't do that to her. I want to though, but I just don't have the heart to do it.

Mom2buttheads, I want to keep taking her back to her own bed. I really do, but my DS still gets up once per night to eat, so in the middle of the night, it's just so easy to let her. If I take her back (which I have tried), she starts to cry and say she's scared etc... I don't want her waking up DS and I don't want to deal with a tantrum at 2 or 3 am. I might have to suck it up though. I just thought maybe there was some trick that I haven't tried.

12 Jan 2012 11:15 AM
22 Feb 2007
Yukon

sarahplusrich
Devotee
1,660

What about letting her fall asleep with the door open and then closing it before you go to bed? It just sounds like you don't want to keep getting up when she comes in to your room, but you don't want to do what it takes to fix it either. I guess it all comes down to choosing what's easier for you, and dealing with the consequences.

12 Jan 2012 11:21 AM
6 Apr 2011

Mom2Buttheads
Fan
569

I know how you feel, Bella. Our kids rooms are right next door and I can assure you that they kids sleep more soundly than we think.

In 7 months, my son's screaming has only woken my daughter once. And she's never woken him up.

The trick is consistency. You have to pick a plan and stick to it. If you quit because it's easier to just let her sleep with you, she'll know you're not serious.

As for her being scared, we give our daughter a glowstick. She hangs onto it and sleeps with it.

But I completely get that you don't want to deal with it at 2am. Our kids sound like similar sleepers --- crappy ones haha Definitely be consistent and firm. No means no.

12 Jan 2012 11:32 AM
30 Jan 2005
Burlington, ON

Coley
Addict
4,754

We're actually about to start sleep training with the help of a sleep consultant. This is one of the areas we're addressing.

She recommended a sticker chart on their bedroom door. Get a clock and explain what number they have to see before they get up. If they stay in their bed all night they get a sticker in the morning. If they do it all week they get a prize, which you put on a high shelf for them to see all week.

There's lots more we have to do as well, but you may want to try this.

12 Jan 2012 8:01 PM
14 Aug 2005
Toronto

M_&_M
Addict
3,834

Coley I was thinking of a sticker chart, but was unsure of how effective it would be.

DD used to be a fantastic sleeper, but then we had a baby and moved. At this point her sleep got crappy

31 Oct 2012 11:59 PM
30 Apr 2012
buzzle.ca

buzzle
New Member
0

Getting them to stop coming in your room!

Want to continue the discussion?

For more discussion like this or to reconnect with weddingbells.ca forum members, check out the forums at buzzle.ca!

More Like This...