Need Help Keeping My Kids in Their Own Rooms at Night!!!! Gggrrrhhhh!!!

Hi H., My kids have always been good sleepers and have slept in their own cribs/beds in their own rooms. However, they both went thru a stage at about age 3/4ish where they would get up around 3am and come in our room. I let them sleep on the floor on my side of the bed. I did NOT make it comfortable for them. They brought their own blanket, pillow, stuffed animal, and would just lay down and sleep. I told them they could do that as long as they didn't wake us up. I think my daughter did it for a couple months, my son only a week or two. Then they just stayed in bed. They are now 12 and 9. So maybe you can try that with them. I'm sure it has to do with the move and the new house. Since they are used to sleeping on their own, they will get back to that when they feel more comfortable in their new home. Good luck!

Do you have a couple of small flashlights that you could give to the kiddos when you put them to bed? That way they could turn them on in the night if they needed to. My guess is that they were initially a little scared in the new place and now it has become a habit. Have a talk with them about how you will keep them safe etc, maybe even go so far as to talk about the safety things you do before going to bed yourself (checking the doors, etc. and check on them). Tell them that they are expected to stay in their rooms and you will not be sleeping with them. Be firm and hold back your "mommy guilt" (we've all got it). Everyone will sleep better.

M

I put a baby gate on my daughter's room when she started doing that. She would wake up, stand at the gate and call me. I would either walk her back to her bed and stay a few minutes or I would tell her to go lay down for a bit and say I would check on her in a few minutes. She would usually fall asleep on her own while waiting for me to come back.

I have always heard that you should talk about the dream, help the child understand that it was not R. and then the "bad dream" is just that. Make sure they are not watching anything scary (even commercials) before bed.

Unfortunately when we become parents we don't get a guaranteed break every night at bedtime until sunrise. We are parents 24/7. I know you are tired, and I do feel for you. We can all relate. If it's very important to you to not have them snuggle with you at night, you'll just keep having to consistently, and kindly, keep walking them back to their rooms. You may need to stay there a while to reassure them. Even a 3 block move is still a completely new world to a small child. They will eventually feel secure in their room, but it will take some time. Is it possible for the two if them to sleep together in the bed? They are craving comfort in the middle of the night and they might be willing to rely on each other, although honestly, I doubt anyone will replace mommy. ;) Also a nightlight sometimes helps and making sure they have stuffed animal friends to snuggle with. Maybe play with them in their new room during the day so it becomes a secure place for them with memories of some "mommy" time that might make it seem more comforting to them at night, as well. Hang in there. They are only little for so long and soon this will be only a fading memory behind you.