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How Do I Teach My Child to Sleep Alone?
Anxiety, insecurity, distractions -- these can all send your little one straight from her bed into yours. Luckily, you can break this bedtime habit. Here's how to encourage your child to sleep independently.
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Eliminate Distractions
Remove televisions, computers, and other electronic devices from your tot's room to create an environment that is conducive to sleep. "The stimulation associated with watching TV or playing video games and the light from computer and TV screens both make it much more difficult to fall asleep," says Parents adviser Judith Owens, M.D., coauthor of Take Charge of Your Child's Sleep. "Certainly, a dim light, such as a night-light, is OK for kids who need it."
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@curasandra, if your daughter is unable to sleep without you, try talking to her about what's going on in her life, school, friends, physically. Let her know that everyone needs a good night's rest to be healthy and functioning the next day. If she is still struggling, dig deeper, try eliminating the Internet or TV just before bed to allow time to relax together reading, drawing, or catching up and explain to her that you are always there for her even if you're not in the same bed at night.
4/27/2012 05:14:29 PM Report AbuseWhile it is good advice to read and prepare a child who has been used to co-sleeping with a parent since he or she was an infant, I recommend making the transition to a child's crib by six months to make it less traumatic in the long run for both parent and child. If a child is older, remember to go gradually, maybe starting with a bed next to yours, then moving it to the child's room, and be prepared to follow through with calm and understanding. - Parent Forward, Bonnie j. Toomey
4/27/2012 07:28:28 AM Report AbuseMy problem is that my daughter is already turning 12 and she still goes into my bed late at night and I haven't been able to convince her that she's old enough to sleep the whole night by herself! Can anyone give some advice???
4/26/2012 01:24:43 PM Report AbuseOK, My 2 grandkid's, a girl 10 and a boy 6, always sleep w/the parent's. I think thats really WEIRD! These kid's need to have a good nites sleep; because they're all bunched up in the bed. My daughter's been a great mom BUT I think she's wrong. These kid's have such a bad emotional tie to her. I don't think it's psych healthy.
11/8/2011 05:41:39 PM Report AbuseI agree, as I myself find noises like the tv comforting,but it's a TERRIBLE habit to get into. you become dependent off it. my fiance bought me a relaxation fountain, and a mountain music cd I have on low. Also, being pregnant, I hope baby associates it with relaxing. I will not let my kids to have a tv in their room, plus, I'll never see them, because they'll be into their tv
11/8/2011 12:15:53 PM Report Abuse