When you transition a toddler into a toddler bed, she may abuse her new freedom by making her way into your room night after night. Whether she's anxious about sleeping in a new bed, has nightmares or just wants to be close to you, it poses a problem for any parent. Getting your toddler to sleep in her own bed will take patience, creativity and understanding as you assess the reasons for the night wakings, and what solution is the best for you and your toddler.
Inviting Bed
Make your toddler's bed a comforting and inviting space, suggests Dr. Susan Bartell, child and family psychologist for "Toddlers Today" magazine. Bring him to the store with you and allow him to pick out sheets, pillows and blankets that depict a favorite character or color. Then, place the bed in the same place that his crib used to be to promote a feeling a familiarity.
Comfort Item
Allow your toddler to pick out a comfort item to accompany her to her toddler bed. When she wakes in the night and comes to find you, let her know that her comfort item can only sleep in her bed, and if she wants to sleep with you she can't have it anymore. Most toddlers are attached to their comfort items, be they stuffed animals or blankets, and will choose to go back to bed over losing the comfort item.
Quiet Placement
Your toddler is often looking for attention when he gets out of his bed each night; to him, it's a fun game because you talk to him, pick him up or comfort him. Instead, try placing him back in bed wordlessly when he wakes up, recommends "Parents" magazine. When he realizes that by getting out of bed he doesn't receive attention that is positive or negative, he'll stop trying altogether.
Reward Chart
Elizabeth Pantley, author of "Perfect Parenting," suggests a chart with stickers that your toddler gets to add to for every night that she stays in her bed. A chart allows her to see her progress visually, and offering a reward for a completed chart gives her incentive to stay in her bed. Award treat-based rewards, and try experience rewards instead; a trip to the zoo or a day at the beach would be more appropriate.
Consistency
The best solution for keeping your toddler in his own bed is the one that you can follow with complete consistency. In the middle of the night, it is often all too easy to lift your toddler into bed with you rather than face a tantrum by putting him back in bed. But just one night of changing your routine confuses your toddler, and allows him to think that getting out of his bed is OK. Consistently keep him in his own bed for the best results with any sleep strategy.
References
- Toddlers Today: Night Time Wanderings
- Parents: Toddler Sleep Solutions
- Perfect Parenting: The Dictionary of 1,000 Parenting Tips: Elizabeth Pantley, 1998
