6 year old wont sleep in her bed

ashleyr409

My 6 year old daughter will not sleep in her bed. She claims that she is having nightmares. Now at first I beleived her, but now when i ask her she tells me that she just scared of the dark and cant sleep in the dark. So I went purchased her a night light to see if that would help and she doesnt even use it. Then i told her she could leave her bedroom light on and she stills comes in the bed with me. So I thought maybe she just needs someone to sleep with her,so I ask her 8 year old brother to sleep with her and she falls alseep with him but still ends up in the bed with me. I just dont know what to do. I am so uncomfortable sleeping with her but when i tell her to get in the bed she cries and I feel so sad. Sh tells me mama I love you so much I just sleep better when you hold me. I am  33 weeks pregnant and I am already restless because of the aches and pain. I know it has nothing to do with me having another baby because before this pregancy I couldnt get her out of the bed. She might have slept in her bed 2-3 times out of the week. But by morning she still would be in my bed.

Any suggestions?

neverblushed

ashleyr409:

 when i tell her to get in the bed she cries and I feel so sad. Sh tells me mama I love you so much I just sleep better when you hold me.

Any suggestions?

Yes -- stop feeling sorry for her.  It will be an adjustment, but you will both sleep better when she sleeps in her own bed.  Don't allow pity for her to cloud your judgment.  And don't pawn this responsibility off on your 8 y/o son.

If I were you, I'd explain it to her.  Big girls sleep in their own beds.  Period.  She's in the habit of sleeping with mom, but habits can be broken.  You'll be there to help her, but she has to break the habit and get used to sleeping on her own.

I'd offer a reward when she reaches a solid week of not coming to you (or, if you think that's too harsh a week of her going back to bed willingly after a single visit to your room.  Pick some "big girl" privilege that you know she would want.

Stay strong and you'll get through this in a week. 

Shema N

Coincidentally my daughter periodically asks me to sleep with her noting that she feels scared by herself, and last night she was really pushing me. I told her no and she said ?Please mom? Just for a little while and then you can go?? So I caved. But what I did is I kept talking to her even though she was visibly very sleep, heavy eyelids and all. I kept talking and she finally looked at me wearily and said ?Mom, you can go now, I?m not afraid anymore.? I'm not advocating this approach but I thought her reaction was quite funny...

Melanieian

My daughter had gotten in the habit of sleeping in the bed with me but it was because of financial reasons at the time and we had moved in with my sister. Things got better and we moved and when it was time for her to sleep in her own room in her own bed it was horrible. There were some screaming and stomping nights, she literally acted like she was dying but I didn't cave into her demands or her trying to get pity. I basically ignored the screaming crying the best I could because there was no sense in going in there because it would never end if I did. It took about a week then she realized she might as well give up because she is not getting her way. She is also 6. She sleeps perfectly fine in room now.

ashleyr409

Thanks for all the advice. She has stayed in her bed for the last two night. I brought her a tinker bell calendar and stickers, and every night she sleeps in her own bed she get s sticker. Once she gets 30 stickers she can get a new game for her ds. Wish me luck!

Melanieian

ashleyr409:

Thanks for all the advice. She has stayed in her bed for the last two night. I brought her a tinker bell calendar and stickers, and every night she sleeps in her own bed she get s sticker. Once she gets 30 stickers she can get a new game for her ds. Wish me luck!

Melanieian

ashleyr409:

Thanks for all the advice. She has stayed in her bed for the last two night. I brought her a tinker bell calendar and stickers, and every night she sleeps in her own bed she get s sticker. Once she gets 30 stickers she can get a new game for her ds. Wish me luck!