Blimey, What Have We Done?????

[moonblushtomato]

For quite a few months now our 3yo and 5yo DCs have ended up in bed with us almost every night.

I can't even remember how it started but its become a nightly thing.

Initially, we didn't mind. It was snuggly and we thought "They're only little for a while and they'll soon grow out of it". Also it was just easier to let them go back to sleep with us rather than keep putting them back into their beds. Our laziness has come back to haunt us!!

And now its becoming really uncomfortable. We've only got a double bed and the 3yo is a very restless sleeper. We want out own space back!! Poor DCs!!

How, if at all, can we change this situation and install them back in their beds ALL night?

Incidently, they both go off to sleep in their own beds but come into our bedroom anywhere between 11 and 3.

be firm and decide together on a plan, because once you do it, if one of you gives in it will take twice as long.

they are old enough to understand, so get reward chart, and tell them that from now on when they get out of bed in the night mummy or daddy will take them back to their own bed.

then do that every night, when they come in, get out of bed , scoop them up and take them back to their own bed. Try not to let them climb in and lie down in your bed as it is harder to get them out. If they fuss just do the low key broken record 'everyone sleeps on their own bed now'
take them back again and again,
you may get temper tantrums and fuss for several nights, or you may get a bit of a whinge and then they accept it.

We had to do it with dd2 who started coming in earlier and earlier. It stopped after a few days once we said no. We also gave her a clock with a wake up face that wakes up at 7 am, and she is not allowed in before the rabbit clock wakes up. (we are not that dogmatic, but we try and stick to the principle)

Thanx steppemum, we're going to start the new regime tonight......

One of our problems is that we give in too easily, so will try the mantra "Everyone sleeps in their own bed now" with lots of conviction, probably again and again and again

Wish us luck!!