Help stop Co-sleeping with my 6 y/o

[thesurreymum]

My nearly 6 year old still sleeps with us every night. He is a big boy who hates the covers on his legs and likes to sleep cuddled into one of us.

He goes to sleep in his own bed but with me laying with him until he sleeps, he then comes into our bed usually before midnight.

We are getting terrible sleep but I'm resenting the huge chunk of time I spend laying with him, just for him to get in my bed not long after.

I want him to go to sleep on his own and stay in his bed all night but in the gentlest way.

Hands up I've been lazy to leave it to this point.

You are just going to have to set boundaries.

He is 6, so you can talk him through how the night will go. Now explain that from now on, he needs a good sleep in his own bed. He is a big boy now.

I would get one of those microwave heated cuddly toys, so can replicate the warmth of cuddling With someone. Put on audio book on and a night light.

Don’t waste the night away reading book after book, you’ll never get out of there put on an audio book and leave.

He may try the usual- I’m thirsty, sore head etc. but think how many times he does that in your bed? Not a lot right? Which means he’s fine. Just pleasantly turn him back to bed.

Explain that your bed and your room is just for mum and dad and he needs to knock on the door and you’ll come to him. He’s not to come in the room. You need to set boundaries with this.

Dont make a big deal of it, don’t be anxious- you need to be easy breezy and matter of fact about it.

Reward him when he does well- knocking on the door, staying in bed, going through the night without complaints.

It’s not going to be difficult for him- he’s a kid, they learn fast. I suspect you might find it difficult but it’s now or you’ll have years of this to go

Great advice, thank you. Love the audiobook idea and warm teddy x