My Son Doesn't Stay in His Bed All Night

Updated on November 15, 2006
M.B. asks from Gilbert, AZ
8 answers

At least 3 or 4 times my son is in the hall sleeping and I have to bring him back to his bed. Does anyone have the same problem and know why they do this? He goes to bed the same time every night and has a nap in the afternoon. We have a night light on for him as well as music. I have played soft music for him since he was a baby. Know we have a 8 month old and we are doing the same. I dont want to stop the nightly music until our second sleeps solidly thru the night. My son is 2 1/2.

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A.M.

answers from Colorado Springs on

My 3 year-old does the same thing and she stopped doing it as often after I put her and her 10 month old sister together in the same room. Before, I'd find her asleep in the hallway, on the floor in my room, in the living room recliner and outside my door. At first this happened every night and I would find her in the middle of the night and put her back. After a while I just decided to let her sleep wherever she wants to and it happened less and less frequently. Now, she still won't sleep in her bed, but she sleeps on the floor in her room and sometimes she climbs into bed with her sister. She seems to sleep just fine and my baby seems to sleep better with her in the room too. Maybe, they just feel the need to be closer to someone.

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A.H.

answers from Phoenix on

I personally would let your son sleep in the hall. My 3 year old daughter absolutely refuses to go to sleep on her bed, but has no problem laying a blanket on the floor and sleeping on that. Whatever...she's sleeping. My 5 1/2 year old son has a problem with coming to my bed everynight. About a month ago, I started telling him that if he had to sleep in my room, then he had to sleep on the floor and NOT on my bed. It works. He only comes in my room like 2 nights a week now and when he does, he lays on the floor. The most important thing is that we are all getting the rest that we need. Good luck and I hope you find a solution that fits your needs. =0)

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H.Q.

answers from Great Falls on

Girl - if you get an answer to this, I'll be grateful!!

I had a second child a little over 10 months ago and she slept in the bedroom with us. My husband felt sorry for my (then) 5 year old. So she got to sleep with us. Well, we now have the girls each in their own room - but my (now) 6 year old will NOT stop coming to sleep with us!!

I hope someone has an idea!!

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K.N.

answers from Denver on

My daughter did this when she was 2 and I guess it is an age thing, cause she got over it and now sleeps in her bed like a big girl. she is 4 now, but she would get up and I would find her in the weirdest places in the morning when she was 2 but she seemed to get enough sleep.

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E.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi I am having the same problem with my 2 1/2 year old. I also have another little one who is 10 months old... and my 2 year old will get up and sleepin the hall or under his bed or even against our door.. We have found him in a carseat box. I dont know why he is doing it either.Some nights he stays in bed others we have to put him back in bed multiple times..but if you find something that works.. I would also love to know!

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L.M.

answers from Phoenix on

My youngest son had the same problem for several years due to him being in daycare and they take naps on mats during naptime. I am assuming that your child just prefers the floor then so i would buy him a mat and let him sleep on the floor at night next to his bed. Also if your child communicates well you can ask him if he doesnt like his bed (due to new baby i am assuming that he was moved to a bed not to long ago from the crib) or his mattress might be uncomfortable (we always kept the plastic on in cause of accidents). so it might be a transition to a bed and this is just a phase that he is going thru cause it sounds like you are doing everything else that you can. Good Luck!

L. M. mother of 4

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R.W.

answers from Pueblo on

HELLO M.,

MY SON AT THAT AGE DID THE SAME THING..... IT WAS VERY HARD ON ME BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE A BIG PUZZLE FINDING SOMETHING TO KEEP HIM IN HIS BED....... I ALSO DID THE MUSIC THING STILL DO HE IS FIVE........ BUT WHILE HE WAS GETTING UP AT NIGHT AND REFUSED TO SLEEP IN HIS ROOM..... I USED TO LAY THERE FOR ABOUT 10 MINS AND TALK ABOUT OUR DAY OR READ A STORY BUT MY MISSING PUZZLE PEICE WAS A FISH TANK...... HE LOVED WATCHING FISH AND IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT LIGHT.... I USED GOLD FISH.... EASY TO TAKE CARE OF........... HE WOULD ALWAYS PUT HIS FISH TO BED BY FEEDING THEM AND TURNING ON THE NIGHT LIGHT......

IT WORKED FOR ME..........
GOOD LUCK........

IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT FISH ........ AND WANT TO DO THIS LET ME KNOW............ I NOW HAVE ONE IN MY BABIES ROOM...... SHE IS 5 MONTHS AND SHE LOVES IT........ SHE LAYS THERE AND WATCHES THEM SWIM... IT IS GREAT FOR THEIR EYES!

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C.K.

answers from Tucson on

A very simple solution that we use is to reverse the dooknob so you can lock it from the outside. Once he realizes that he can't roam the halls, he'll learn to fall asleep in his own room where he is safest. You may want to try a white noise maker that makes repetive noise like running water, which may be less stimulating than music. A darkened room, lavender oil, and maybe a night time bath/story ritual can also help. Naps that are too long or too late in the day can also hinder nighttime sleeping, so you may want to monitor his schedule if that is happening.

Best of luck to you ;)

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