Help getting 2 year old into own bed!!

[Thejoysof2boys]

My son aged 2.5 has been sleeping in my bed since 10 months old and I am now struggling to get him to sleep alone. It's got so bad now that I have to lay with him for him to fall asleep and he quite often has to be cuddling me or touching my face etc. I have a 8 month old baby too so if I get up in the night to go and make the baby a bottle of milk, he wakes and will cry when I leave the room. He's also quite clingy during the day but that really depends on his mood! HELP I'm desperate for him to be in his own bed and own room so we can both get some space and a good rest!!!

Does he play in his room while you are around (in and out of his room folding laundry or cleaning or whatever else you do nearby)?

Get him to see his room as a fun place to be, perhaps spend time in there playing toys or reading books sitting or lying on his bed

So gradually each day spend more time in there doing puzzles or reading books or playing with toys than you do in other rooms

Not putting any pressure on him

Put your baby to sleep in his/her own cot in the other bedroom so ds1 doesn't miss out on being in your room/bed while baby is still in your room

You could let him have your duvet cover on his bed so your smell is in there

Or you could go down the route of you sleeping in his bedroom on mattress and gradually moving it towards the door

Or just go cold turkey and put him back in his own bed each night but that will be hard work for you and emotional and could take a few weeks but it might work quickest

It will be hard for him especially with the baby getting your attention but you could end up with both of them in your bed in 6 months time if you delay

Get him to choose some new bedding with Thomas or animals or whatever design is his favourite or some posters with the characters or animals on

So he gets excited about his room being his iyswim

@SUBisYodrethwhenLarping thank you, he does play in there but usually wants me in there with him and will cry if I leave, but really depends on his mood as sometimes he will play in there happily. I think that's definitely something to try in the new year.

I should probably have added that he does have cerebral palsy can't walk etc which means he is completely dependant on me for most things which only adds to the problem. It also means he has a very basic understanding of what I say to him so I don't think he will be able to process buying bed covers etc.

I think cold turkey could work, but it's amazing how much willpower a two year old can have, probably more than me 🤣

When I've put him in there in the past he falls asleep with me in his bed and then wakes frequently during the night and cries as soon as he sees I'm not there, until I lay with him again. I may possibly try putting him and the baby in the same room and see if that helps ease his anxiety!

Thanks for the tips 😊

Can you get a teddy/blanket and for next few weeks cuddle him but make sure he is touching teddy, then reduce the amount of contact with you, transferring his comfort?

I did this before my son started nursery so he had acomforter when i couldnt be there.

(Ps if it works get a spare!)

@lancslass17 yes I suppose I could try that rather than going cold turkey.

I've always tried to avoid giving him any kind of comforter and took his dummy away at 9 months because I was so worried about him being too attached to it but maybe that will be better than him being attached to me I suppose! Gotta be worth a try!