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Weaning a Co-Sleeper--More Mom Tips
January 6, 2009 at 7:34 AM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (6)
Photo by SuperPickle
IMO, there's nothing better on these cold winter mornings than snuggling with your toddler under a cozy comforter. But I've been talking to moms about how to wean co-sleeping toddlers when the time comes to move them to a big kid bed.
Lsmom already told me how she got her 21 month old to love sleeping in her own bed in her own room, and today I'm dishing out some of the best how-to advice from around CafeMom.
Buy a special bed "A twin bed is preferable to a toddler bed. This way, you can lay down with him until he is asleep. That is what we did with our oldest DD. It was a struggle at first, and I think I actually had to lay with her until she was 4, but it eventually worked. I still lay with my son till he falls asleep and he's 2 1/2!" kristielee79
Hold hands "I put my son's toddler bed right next to my bed and held his hand for a week. The second week he didn't really need my hand. I moved his bed against my wall, and then we got him a new bed and decorated his room with Superman. He has a trundle bed underneath his bed and my hubby spent a few nights on that. He was pretty good after that. I was sure he would end up coming into our bed way more than he did." trish_27
Do the sleepy switch "Let him fall asleep in your bed, but once he's asleep, move him to his bed. After about a week of this, start putting him in his bed and stay until he has fallen asleep. Work your way up to the solo bed like this. It may take a while so be patient, or else you may be faced with a complete breakdown that will set you back dramatically." Miranda1127
Comments:
The way that I think is best is encouragement without a timeframe. Buy a bed, and put the mattress on your floor, next to your bed. Buy cool sheets and put some comfort items there, and even a nightlight. Encourage your child to sleep there, but NEVER force it. Forcing it will make it harder on you both.
Eventually, they'll go into that bed, and then you can start suggesting cool things you could do when they're in their own room.
Most importantly, every child is different, and what they'll need to feel secure is different... but you should NEVER force anything like this, and especially not leave them to cry.
I decorated my 2 year olds room in Disney Pixar Cars to motivate him. Two days ago I put him in bed, read him a book, then sat on the floor next to the bed until he fell asleep. I was shocked that he didn't cry or whine. He raised his head a couple of times, but within 30 - 40 mins he was asleep. I thought I just got lucky, but he did the same thing last night. I hope it continues to be this easy.
We have finally got our kids to sleep in their own beds but come midnight or 2 o'clock they are back in our beds!!! LOL How do you stop that!!
calaid, tell them they can get in bed with you guys when the sun is up (when they can see light through their window). If they come in before then, put them back in bed and just remind them they've got to wait until they see light.
My daughter started coming back in our room when she was potty training. I'd quietly with a night light in the bathroom take her potty. Then put her in bed and wisper good night. She was usually asleep before I even got out the door. Now if she went to my husbands side of the bed lol. He's not the same being woken up and he would either just slide her in or yell at her to go back to bed. Well yelling just made her cry and so she would end up in our bed anyways.
Long story short, try to figure out why they are coming in (potty, thirsty, bad dream, noise outside) and quietly take care of it then put them back into bed. The key is queitly and with little light.
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I think almost anything can work as long as you keep the goal in mind and don't do anything contrary to your goal. I even stayed on my child's bedroom floor to help her transition... I would go to my bed once she fell asleep. I was present in the room, but she was in her own bed.
BJoan Jan. 6, 2009 at 8:41 AM