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3 year old doesn't want to sleep in his own bed.

1 reply

just5morepeas · 21/06/2017 14:30

My 3 year old son has recently (in the last month) started not wanting to sleep in his own bed. He seems genuinely upset and scared and we've started letting him sleep in our bed just to keep the peace so we're at least getting some sleep. He started out mentioning monsters but hasn't mentioned that for a while.

The problem is he fidgets, kicks, and sticks to my other half like a limpet so he finds it hard to sleep with him in our bed - not to mention the fact I would like him to sleep independently for his own sake too.

I don't know what to do anymore. I spent ages settling him in his bed last night, laid beside his bed (toddler bed) on the floor before leaving, went up to him nearly every hour until midnight when he seemed to settle a bit then at 3 he ended up in our bed.

Up till now he was an ok sleeper and generally slept until 6/7 once he settled (which my other half sometimes did in our bed and then moved him- but not all the time).

We have a good night time routine I think, and appart from needing a black out blind in his room I can't think of anything that might be disturbing him/scaring him.

My daughter who is 5 never went through this and has always slept really well, so I'm not sure what I've done wrong here!

Did anyone else deal with this? Did you let your kid sleep with you and they grew out of it, or was that a big mistake and you look back and wish you'd never done it? Any advice would be gratefully received. Sorry about the long rambly post - so tired atm!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Drybonesthatdream · 21/06/2017 21:33

If he's frightened of monsters could you try the monster spray (google it, its just a water spray bottle for plants/what barbers use decorated 😂) - although if he's not mentioned them since I wouldn't set him off again.

Maybe move his room around? And if he has toys in his room make sure they're put away so there's no shadows to spook him? Other than that all I could suggest is sitting with him (although I wouldn't want to be in the habit of staying there every night until he's asleep) and keep checking on him.

Like everything else, it'll come right in time and he won't be sleeping with you at 20!

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