Been up since 12.30 trying to get dd to sleep in her own bed. Any tips?

[GColdtimer]

Dd2 is 3 and a half. She has always been a bad sleeper, as was her sister, so I have just let her get in with us when she wakes to make it easy. The last few months I have been sometimes putting her back to her own bed, with varying success. I don't sleep well with her in bed so decided to make a stand tonight. We have been to-ing and fro-ing for 6 hours. She is tenacious and just wants to be with someone. I have been doing rapid return and story CDs at bedtime which us working. I am exhausted, not just from tonight but from nearly 8 years if broken sleep!

Any tips for not giving in to letting her in bed tomorrow night? Thanks.

Are you talking to her about it during the day, so she can prepare for it? It will be a big change if you just decided it last night.

Talk to her, 'big girl' in her room etc, maybe even a treat if she does do it successfully

Yes I did talk to her, I recognise its a massive step though. She knows all her friends sleep in their own beds. I will think of a treat for when she dies it. Good idea.

Stay in her room with her? No point killing yourself and her out of exhaustion. I'd also have her share with her sister if she doesn't already.

Completely agree with steamwisher. My DC share (2 yrs 4m and 3 yrs 10m). Works well for us. If either of them wake up in the night myself or DH sit with them. I know some would disagree with it but within a few minutes they are asleep again.

Would bribes work? Tell her if she stays in her own bed tonight that you will get her a (little) prize. She only gets it if she stays in her bed all night- except toilet obviously. It's kind of working for my 3year old dd who has always been a difficult sleeper. She has now slept in her own bed all night 5 times since I started being firmer.

I did sit with her but everytime I went back to bed she woke up within 5-10mins of me leaving and came and found me. This went on from 12.30 until dh got up with her at 6.30. Her sister is 4 years older so not sure it's fair on her to have a non sleeping sister in the room. Whenever they have shared on holiday it makes no difference and if anything makes it worse.

Yes Monday. Am going to ask her to think of something today to use as carrot tonight.

We've had many episodes over the years with our dc, you've just got to be consistent and do the rapid return over and over. Has she got a night light or similar?

I hope you and dh manage to sort something out today so you can catch up on some sleep.

Yes, us too Gideon. I think my problem is lack if consistency which is why she thought if she just held out last night I would cave. Part of me likes her in bed as she is such a cuddle bunny but I don't actually sleep well with her there and I am exhausted. Yes, we will tag team today!

twofalls Bribery/rewards might be a good idea then. I didn't realise she was waking every time you left her. I'm all for a bit of bribery gentle encouragement.

Hopefully it will be a short phase. Could she have been a bit spooked with all the hallowe'en stuff that's been about? DS kept waking up and talking about witches landing on the roof on the night of hallowe'en but has luckily been ok since.

Star charts with rewards? Lots of praise & keep returning.

Keep going...my friend still had her 12 year old getting into bed with her...

What I mean is sleep in her room to get her used to staying in there. Then as she gets more settled, work on leaving her. Do small steps not big ones. She's too young to be driven by rewards IMO.

I would also rule out any causes of night waking as well. Does she snore?

My dd is same age and started creeping into bed with us in night. Put a stop to it by taking her back to bed and to be honest we used a bit of a carrot at first but now she knows she can come in in the morning when it's light....Good luck with whatever works for you and hope you get some sleep x

Nothing recent, she has never slept through the night which is why I ended up having her in bed with me. I just don't sleep well with her in. She doesn't snore. She just wants company when she wakes. It's hard not to get cross but I will carry on with reassurance and rapid return.

Last night she woke 3 times at 12,1 and 4 but went back to bed without a fuss and woke up at 7.30 and was allowed in bed for a cuddle because it was morning (the sun in her clock told her so). She got a sticker on her chart and has her eye on a lala loopsy doll if she keeps it up. She was very proud of herself this morning. Fingers crossed for tonight!

Good luck!