Parenting expert and child psychologist Dr Pat Spungin, CEO of Raisingkids.co.uk,
suggests some ways of encouraging toddlers to stay in their own beds and
let tired parents get a good night's sleep.
Raisingkids
member's problem My 2 yr-old won't stay in his bed at
night. He's fine - within reason - about going to bed in the first place
but then visits me in my bed any time from 2am onwards. Why is this and
what can I do about it?
Dr Spungin's advice
Why does he come to your bed? Because it's warm and safe and he likes
to be close to you. He may be scared of the dark or just want company.
The reasons for coming to your bed are easy to guess at.
If your child is frightened or sick, then you'll welcome him into your
bed but if it looks like it's becoming a habit, you have to decide what
to do.
All of us have periods of light sleep during the night, during which we
'almost' wake up, then turn over and go back to sleep. During a period
of light sleep, your son's waking himself up and coming to your room.
Some parents don't mind this and it doesn't disturb their sleep, so they
just wait for their child to grow out of it. A warning though - this may
take months or (occasionally) years! If you do mind, you'll want to break
the habit as soon as possible.
Aim to get your son to turn over and settle back to sleep in his own bed
whenever he half-wakes from a light sleep period. When he comes to your
bed, give him a little cuddle, then take him back to his own room. Settle
him down, say goodnight, keep it very low key and then leave quietly.
If he comes back, repeat the procedure until he falls asleep. It may take
a couple of nights, but over time this will work. Good luck!
