6 year old kicking all night

[Amae]

Hi guys,

Writing out of desperation after another rough night!

My 6 year old DD has never been a great sleeper- she's only ever slept through the night 3 times and is always getting into our bed by about 1am at the latest (she goes to bed around 8-8.30) which was fine when we had a bigger bed but we've recently moved and downsized to a smaller one so my husband and I spend most our night hanging off either side while she's starfished in the middle. There's also another issue, she has a habit of kicking or 'digging' her feet into us in the night - I actually have the same habit and sometimes do it to my husband until he wakes up and moans at me. I've never minded her doing it to me as, weirdly, I've always found it quite comforting but recently
It has got so.much.worse! She's repeatedly kicking her legs into me and now does it with her hands too. It's like it's her way of soothing herself back to sleep but it keeps me up 40% of the night. I'm also pregnant and stressing about how sleeping arrangements are going to be when the baby is here too!

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated- our main aim would be to get her to sleep in her own bed longer (I've got no problem with her coming in from 4am onwards)!

Thank you!

You need to be sleeping in her room so she gets out of the habit of sharing with you.

She is going to have to stop coming into your bed then. A few difficult nights ahead until you break her habit. As soon as she comes in, one of you must get up and take her back to her own bed. Take it in turns, if necessary. Keep at it until it sticks. Warn her that she won't be sleeping in beside you and do it before the baby arrives so she doesn't associate it with that.

Only solution is for her to stay in her own bed, especially once baby is here. Starting talking to her about it, how the baby will be in your room and crying so she’ll want to stay in her own bed! Perhaps rewards for staying in her own bed

I'd never put up with this, sleep is so important to everyone and it needs to not be disturbed. Get them in their own bed.

Exactly what some others have said, you need to be putting her back in her bed. None of you are sleeping right now so just accept you're about to have a few really crap nights and commit to taking her back to bed every time she comes into your room.

Explain to her what will be happening, make sure she has a night light if she will feel more comfortable with one, a Teddy or something to cuddle in her bed. Make it a special thing, her favourite or new sheets and PJs and then just grit your teeth and do it. In the night when she comes to your room, No talking beyond a simple 'back to bed now' in a calm quiet voice and walk her back to her bed.