[Torismom63]

I have a 5 year old who will not sleep in her own bed!!! I feel responsible for the situation so i guess that's why I haven't pushed the issue too hard. Now, i'm to the point where i'm not getting enough rest because i am constantly moving her around..she's a terrible sleeper! My husband works at night so it's just the two of us. When my step-kids visits, she sleep with them. She tells me she can not go to sleep in the bed alone. I really don't know what to do. I've created a monster!! Does anyone have any suggestions on ways to get her back into her own bed!!!!!!?

[seeingstraight]

my 5 1/2 ds still comes to bed with us.. normally between 12-2am.

We started a sticker chart for him which worked for 2 nights..
Im lucky as he is easy to sleep with doesnt move around ect..

No real advice just letting you know your not alone!

[ekbaby]

Could she sleep on her own mattress on the floor in your room? (or a toddler bed, sleeping bag etc... something where she is not in a room on her own but you have your own sleep space). I know quite a few 5 yr olds who still don't like to sleep alone- I'm not expecting my 4.5 yr old to be ready by then- I think it's easier if they have a sibling they can share with.

[New Horizons]

I have an open door, sometimes my 9yo sleeps with me all night, mostly she sleeps in her own bed and sometimes I wake up with her in my bed, no idea when she came in.

[myboyz]

Sounds like my ds 7....... It works for our house, ,means more sleep for all. It won't last for ever I guess so that's why I just go with it.
Op could you try a mattress on the floor next to your bed so you dd is still in your room but not invading your bed space?
Just a thought.......good luck.

[A Winters Day]

I was this kid from age 4-7. My mums solution was to bunk me in on my brothers trundle bed. It worked I just hated sleeping by myself.
So I'd suggest a mattress on the floor near your bed

[ekbaby]

Other ideas:
- A night light in her room, and/or from the hallway to your room
- Open door policy- she starts the night in her room, with the understanding that if she is upset or scared later on she is allowed to sneak into your room- might make her feel more confident knowing that help is there if she needs it
- can you stay with her until she goes to sleep at night then get back up ?
- explain the problem to her (she wants to feel safe at night but when she sleeps in your bed you can't sleep properly, making you a tired and grumpy mum). What ideas does she have to make things work? Sometimes kids have surprising suggestions.
- some kids like white noise, like radio on softly, music etc, makes them feel less alone
- a baby monitor so she knows that if she calls you you can hear
- are your rooms far apart? If she's down the other end of the house and rejigging things so that she is just next door is an option, that might help

I don't think things like rewards/punishments are as effective as dealing with this issue compared to some other childhood issues, because (IMO) it's usually not so much an issue of discipline/child being "naughty" as the child being scared or worried (say, compared to the problem of trying to teach a 5yo to clean up their room).

[with the goo goo...]

I slept on a stretcher bed in my parents room until I was four (I didn't have my own room until my dad rearranged all the walls in the house). For many years after that I used to go into my parents room and sleep on a matress next to the bed - I still remember it clearly. I am not sure what age I stopped at, but there was never any fuss made and I did eventually grow out of it of my own accord.

[EBeditor]

My 5 y.o still wanders in to our room overnight. If he won't settle back in bed we put a mattress on the floor.

[MadreLoca]

My sideways sleeping upside down foot on my neck 5 yr old (& on extra-fun nights, the 3 yr old joined us) slept with me every night for 8.5 months. Theoretically he shared a room with his brother but he's only just gone back into his own bed a week ago. The catalyst? A new character doona cover.

This post has been edited by MadreLoca: 01/02/2013, 09:54 PM