Sleep Issues - Los Angeles, CA

You really do have to go cold-turkey, and do it before the baby comes. You need to establish a bedtime routine, which could still mean reading a story in your bed, but then they will have to go to their own room for bed. Their bedtime should definitely be moved up, but do so incrementally. There will be a lot of crying and they will probably try to come into your bed throughout the night. The first time you tell them that they need to sleep in their own beds, then each time after you just take them back without saying anything. It may take several weeks and you need to be consistent. They will try to wear you down and there will be times when it seems easier to just give in - DON'T! In the long -run it will be better for everyone. OH, and you need to make sure that your husband is 100% supportive and willing to follow through when you're not there. Assuming you will want the baby to learn to sleep alone, you should start much earlier with #3. While the closeness and convenience of co-sleeping is lovely, your kids need to learn to separate from you and you & your husband need to take back your bed!

Although it's great to have the children with you in bed and it makes you and them feel closer and safe, I think it's also good that you begin to teach them to be more independent.. this way you can rest with the new baby who will also require a lot of attention.. also don't forget, you need alone time with you hubby. All couples need to have closeness without the children around to keep the flame from burning out. I have two boys and one little one on the way also, and both my boys sleep in their own beds. I love it when they come and cuddle with us, but I also need to be alone with my hubby... good luck!!

artzmom.com

Hi M.- Getting children to transition to their own bed is no easy task. What I did to encourage them to stay in their beds is this: give them something of yours or daddy's to sleep with (a shirt to use as a blankie/soothing article or something else safe to sleep with that is associated with you or their dad; i also took my son shopping for a sleep buddy (a stuffed animal he chose that would keep him company all night long but he was only allowed to play with in bed until a definite solo sleep pattern was established); and third, I did the sticker chart thing--each night he slept and stayed in his bed by himself, he got a sticker in the morning. Determine the reward ahead of time depending on your financial situation. Some ideas are disneyland trip, sd zoo, ice cream outting, trip to the dollar store. you would probably need to shorten the amount of stickers the two year old would need to getir order to obtain their reward. he or she probably has a shorter goal-attention span than the 3 year old. when i started with my then 3 year old, we used a 5 sticker goal. if you dont already follow the sticker chart system, i would recommend implementing it with something smaller before you tackle the bed issue. teach them the system with other examples such as picking up their toys, or eating all their lunch, or whatever smaller task you can encourage them to do. Hope this helps!!! and good luck

M., All you can do is go cold turkey. Start tonight with them sleeping on their own in their own bed. Just keep putting them back until they stay there.

They will fight you and they will cry. Be prepaired for that cuz it will happen.

You can also try you sitting on the floor in their room until they go to sleep. They will get out and try to sit by you, just put them back with out saying anything to them. Or have your husband do it. They really need to be going to bed by 9 pm. If he does this every night at the same time, they will learn, it will take time usually about 2 weeks. So here's what you do...You read stories, bath or whatever you nighttime routine is...Then they get hugs and kisses, then go down in their own beds. You sit on the floor with your head down. If they get up you put them back in bed and tell them it is bed time. You sit back on the floor. Then if they get up again...you put them back in bed without talking to them at all and then you repeat this step for however long it takes until they are asleep.

It is a lot of work, but it is worth it in the long run.

C.

You don't have to traumatize them to keep them in their own beds. You can tell them that as big girls, you're gonna let them "camp out" in their rooms tonight. Take some Blankets and hang them around to make a fort or if you have the room, put a small tent with sleeping bags in there.
The first night or so, you can sleep in there with them but try to do it without that first (and don't offer it unless you meet resistance).
A little sound machine or CD with nature noises to set the tone would be great. Show them that their room can be fun.
My son had a bunkbed and I just hung blankets around the outside. I bought him a little bedside lantern (looks like a camping lantern) and we got "supplies" (a glass of water by the bed) and I told him stories and sung to him.

Hi M.,

I can't emphasize strongly enough to not make it seem about the new baby. Jealousy towards the baby could be very dangerous. I don't know how far along you are, but, the earlier in your pregnancy that you can make this change the better. Try to make it seem like it has no relation to the baby & hopefully they'll be totally comfortable w/ their new routines by the time the baby comes (since I'd imagine the baby will sleep in your room for @ least a few months if not 8 months, give or take).

I'd say you need to go cold turkey & moving there bedtimes up is a good thing too, but, try 1/2 hour increments @ a time. A bed time routine is really important & reading stories is good, but, the reading stories part (I think) should take place in you childrens room. Once they're all tucked in. It may sound odd, but, it seems like a good trick to me to read one or two stories close to them & then one sitting in the doorway w/ the light in their room off, @ that point (of course with a nightlight on if needed though). Then lead them back to bed the 1st time (per night) that they get up telling them it's bedtime & it's time for them to sleep in their beds & then any other times they get up leading them back to bed in silence. That avoids giving them attention for getting up. I'd also suggest having one or more discussions throughout the day explaining that they'll be sleeping in their own beds that night, so it's not thrust upon ____@____.com luck & I wish you well w/ all your little ones,

M.