Kids who are used to sleeping in a crib or family bed may have a difficult time making the transition to sleeping in their own bed. This can frustrate parents who are at their wits end trying to get a good night's sleep themselves. Luckily, even though getting kids to sleep in their own beds isn't always easy to do, the process itself is simple and only requires you to keep in mind a few steps.
Step 1
Start young. You should wait until the kids are old enough to sleep in a bed without falling out for safety reasons, but the earlier you start the process of transitioning them to their own bed, the easier it will be. Although you may be able to reason better with an older child, the bad habit of sleeping elsewhere will be more firmly rooted and may be harder to undo.
Step 2
Look for sleepy cues. It will be much easier to get kids to stay in their beds and fall asleep if you work with their internal clocks and time bedtime when they naturally grow tired. Yawning, rubbing eyes or a decrease in activity are all signs that the kids may be ready to go to bed.
Step 3
Create an environment that promotes sleep. This includes having it be cool, dark and quiet and free from noisy electrical items that may distract or excite them. However, it also should be a place where they feel relaxed and feel comfortable spending time there. If your kids do not like their bedroom, consider spending some time redoing the room so that they do, if at all possible. Spending time in the bedroom during the day may also help them feel more comfortable in the room at night.
Step 4
Develop a bedtime routine that includes their beds. This may include reading stories in bed, singing lullabies or just cuddling and talking about the day. It is important to pick a routine that can consistently be done every night, so keep it simple and short. If your kids are old enough, consider asking them for their input.
Step 5
Return them to their bed each and every time they get up. You need to be consistent with this, because if you cave even once and allow them to sleep somewhere else, you will teach them you don't really mean what you say, and if they protest long enough, you will not follow through. Putting them back in bed every few minutes may be difficult and time-consuming the first few nights, but it will gradually lessen because the kids will come to realize that you are not going to back down.
Step 6
Give positive reinforcement when they do sleep in their own beds. Kids tend to respond better to positive reinforcement rather than punishment for issues such as this, says Maureen Keefe, dean of the College of Nursing at the Medical University of North Carolina. Although some parents go as far as making up sticker charts with prizes, heartfelt praise and hugs can also be effective.
Tips and Warnings
- If your kids are continually getting out of their beds in the middle of the night and you are worried about safety issues, consider installing a safety gate or half door to prevent them from being able to leave the bedroom.
- Frequent night awakenings may just be a power struggle or behavioral issue, but they can also be symptoms of a medical condition or sleep disorder. If your kids seem to be unable to stop themselves from waking up and getting out of bed, talk to a pediatrician or pediatric sleep specialist to rule out a physiological cause.
