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Sleep

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Original poster

Toddler coming through every night

20 replies

CatP22 · 27/09/2017 09:06

I have a 3year old boy who has started coming & climbing into bed with us every night. We take him back to his bed but he comes through a few times a night. It's not a habit we want to get into but not sure what to do to stop it. Anyone have any suggestions?

OP posts:

GlitteryFluff · 27/09/2017 09:23

No advice but in the same boat.
I'm pregnant and there's hardly any space in the bed. Such bad nights sleep til DH gets up for work then it's not so bad!

2014newme · 27/09/2017 09:27

Talk to him about how everyone sleeps in their own bed. If you can find the in the night garden episodes where uosy daisy doesn't let the others sleep in get bed it may help. Sticker and kits if organise in morning if stays in own bed. But you need to be consistent and not let him sleep in your bed sometimes as that is confusing.
My children have never ever slept in my bed.

2014newme · 27/09/2017 09:27

Sticker and praise that should have said. Make lots of fuss about what a big boy he us in own bed etc.

Original poster

CatP22 · 27/09/2017 10:07

Thanks guys. We tried all the praise and explaining to him. We even got him a single bed and took him to choose his own duvet cover to make it exciting that he is in a big boy bed. We tried the GloClock and he is so excited when the sun comes up but still doesn't stop him. We've also tried the reward approach. Just not sure what to try next.

OP posts:

2014newme · 27/09/2017 10:10

Could you put a sad face on a chart if he does not stay in his own bed? Would a stair gate on his room help?

Original poster

CatP22 · 27/09/2017 10:13

We used to have a stair gate on his door but he can now open it!

OP posts:

Original poster

CatP22 · 27/09/2017 10:14

I'll try the sad sticker chart though & see if that helps, thanks

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silvergirl85 · 27/09/2017 10:14

Stair gate at their room entrance is great, we did it with toddler and in the end she loved it, she liked having a bit of her own space and we had peace!!

2014newme · 27/09/2017 10:15

I'm all out of ideas except returning him to his own bed every time which would be exhausting in the short term

Original poster

CatP22 · 27/09/2017 10:20

Thank you for your ideas. Guess we just need to pursue with taking him back each time and hopefully he will start to understand it's not on. It's exhausting - like having a new born again!

OP posts:

FATEdestiny · 27/09/2017 11:59

Is he giving you any reason for getting up? Needing the toilet, scared of the dark, thirsty or whatever. It is he just getting up as soon as he wakes up without giving it any thought? If that's the case, look at how he goes to sleep in the first place. Is he used to going from fully awake to asleep on his own in the dark with the door shut?

Avebury · 27/09/2017 12:02

I had a mattress on the floor next to my bed when mine were that age. Quite often it meant they would come in and jump into the bed on the floor and not even wake me.
I didn't care where they slept as long as my sleep didn't get disturbed too much.

Original poster

CatP22 · 27/09/2017 15:39

Could try the mattress on the floor - that's not a bad idea!

He has water next to his bed, a night light on and used to take himself to the potty then back to bed. I think he wakes up & comes straight through without a thought. He has always self settled so is used to going to sleep on his own.

OP posts:

FATEdestiny · 27/09/2017 18:21

Does he have a comforter or snuggly of any kind? That night might help with that but if extra reassurance. Mostly though, just keep rapid returning back to bed until her gets the message.

Original poster

CatP22 · 27/09/2017 21:20

He has a teddy and a blanket which are hi comforters really but he brings with him when he comes in with us! Seems like it is just going to have to be putting up with it and taking him back each time.

OP posts:

Original poster

CatP22 · 27/09/2017 21:21

Thanks all for your advise! It's comforting to know we have tried all that others would try so just going to persevere with taking him back to bed each time

OP posts:

RandomMess · 27/09/2017 21:25

His life is feeling very uncertain at the moment something BIG is happening aka a sibling. Seriously he is probably a bit anxious and I would put the mattress on the floor.

Inthesleeplessnightgarden · 27/09/2017 21:29

Persist with taking him back each time.
I wish I had! I now have a 4 yr old who appears in my bed every night (mostly I don't even notice til the morning) and a 6 yr old who I've had to resort to bribing with cash to get him to stay in his own bed - works about half the time....

WeAllHaveWings · 27/09/2017 21:33

We bought a super king size bed and let him come through and climb in without waking up. It's was usually about 3 in the morning. When he was around 5, before starting school, we bribed him out of it with some rewards. Miss my sleepy morning cuddles now.

Wallywobbles · 27/09/2017 21:43

Don't take him back just send him back. Or try it for a couple of nights. Or make him too uncomfortable to stay. My eldest would stay for a few minutes but was so uncomfortable she went back to her own bed pretty fast.

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