2.5 year old has started co-sleeping

[nomchonge1]

Hi!
We moved a few months ago and DS’ sleep was disrupted. Prior to this he was sleeping through the night. Because we felt he was unsettled due to changes etc, we comforted him upon his waking. We are now in a cycle where he wakes every night in the middle of the night and wont settle unless he is in our bed, where he remains for the rest of the night. Fully aware we have set a precedent now/rod for own back etc etc but at a loss at how to get him back to his bed for the whole night! Help pls!!

Had the same thing with mine. Got to the end of my tether as we all ended up tired and grumpy every day. Not saying this will work for you but it did for us. Over a few days I explained what my plan was, then on day one of putting it into action I made sure to talk through what was happening.

I stopped staying with him when he first went to bed. Said I was going to get ready for bed and would check back when I’ve got my pyjamas on or whatever. Repeat every 5 mins or so, making an excuse to leave the room, until he fell asleep.

That weirdly stopped him coming into our room and he slept much better. He’s only tried coming in a couple of times since. When it’s happened I’ve taken him back to bed, said I’ll check on him in a few mins, and he’s put himself back to sleep.

Not saying it’s going to be that easy for you. But maybe worth a go.

Also, is his bed comfortable? Ours was sleeping in a cot bed with the side off. Think he was too heavy for the mattress. He’s slept more soundly since moving to a proper single bed.

Have you tried getting bed with him then escaping when he’s gone back to sleep

Thank you - we will give this a go. And definitely worth considering the move into a proper bed as he is in cot-bed still, so this could also be causing him to wake. He thrashes around in there like no ones business 😅

Get a mattress for your floor or a sponge bed, tell DC they are too big to get into bed but they can sleep there, that often does the trick and he'll come in and not disturb you.