Sleepin All Night in Her Own Bed

My 2 year old does the same thing. We had her in bed with us until we wanted to try and make another baby. Then we needed her in her own bed. She was only about 10 months when we started this and we did it by putting her in her own bed and her own room. She did not have a bedroom door so it was easy to hear when she got up. Once she stared walking she would just come and get in our bed. Sometimes I don’t even notice when she comes in. We have good days where she does not join us until about 5 or 6 and not so good days where she is in with us by 12. More good nights now than when we started. It worked well for us and her. She knows we will be there is she needs us and that makes her feel better about sleeping in her own bed.

Of course it is easier to let her come sleep with you! but if you truly want her out of your bed don't bring her in your bed!! Does she have her own room to sleep in? If so I would immediatly put her crib in there and let her sleep in there. You have taught her that it is not okay to sleep anywhere else so now she may be upset the first few nights, but be consistent and persistent! She will try everything in the book to get back but this really should only take a few sleepless nights for you, try starting on a Thursday so you may be a little sleepy on Friday but you will have the weekend to deal with it. They get over things so quickly and you will remember the crying far after she has forgotten it.

Does she keep you awake when she sleeps with you? I'd give yourself a chance to get used to sleeping together before deciding to take the hard road and "make"her sleep by herself. Just to give you an idea of how I do it. My six yo daughter sleeps above our queen in a loft bed while my 18 month old son and I sleep below. Sometimes Daddy too snuggles in but he isn't used to the squirreling around that I do nursing my son in the night so he doesn't get as good as sleep. But I know if he did it more often, he would!;-) I am totally going with the kids will tell me when they want their own bed and their own room and until then, I am just happy to sleep with them. If I want conguceal visits with hubby, that is what the spare bedroom is for!

It's very normal to have kids wind up in your bed even at 4 or older. If you find it uncomfortable you can set her back to sleep and put her back to bed. I didn't mind most of the kids but I do have one that will kick and hit in her sleep so I insisted she sleep in her own bed. As far as the own room thing it doesn't matter much other than how far you have to go to get her. I feel more comfortable if they share a room with someone as long as they are in the crib, just because I feel like they are trapped and if they need help or I can't hear them, they can't get to me.

I am a little confused by your post ... when you refer to her "bed," do you mean her crib?

If so, I suggest you get her crib out of your room if you truly don't want her to sleep with you. Just think how frustrating and sad it is for her to wake up and see you there and not be able to be with you! You could also hang a sheet from the ceiling, or get a low-cost folding screen to set up between you and the crib so she can't see you when she wakes up. Or figure out a way to be able to get some good sleep with her in your bed. Good luck.

I am also a single mom, with an infant daughter. We have had many nights in separate sleeping arrangements and many more together (at that 3am hour). I read that infants of working moms tend to wake up more during the night, theory being that they just need the "check in" type reassurance. It makes sense to me, for my daughter and me, so I'm not sweating it.

Katrina is right! That is the only correct solution. The last one is the wrong senario. Any child psycologist will tell you that. You DO need to get your own good sleep, even if you stay at home, but you don't. For one thing, the crib never need be in your room after night feedings were over.
She should be in her own space. If she wakes in the middle of the night, take her back, however many times this takes. She needs her OWN sense of security. You can have cuddle time in the morning, but not at bed time. If she needs help falling asleep, pat her back for awile, IN HER OWN BED. Does she have a blankie or a doll that would help comfort her? Make sure she gets plenty of time with you before bedtime. Give her at least a full hour of storytime and soft play before she goes. Don't excite her, wind her down. If she feels satisfied with her special time with you, she may not feel the need to wake up and find you. Be firm about, this is your bed, this is mommies bed. The super nanny showed one parent putting their son back in bed for an hour and a half. They would just sit across his room in the dark and wait for him to get out again and put him back saying NOTHING to him. He finally got the idea that mom and dad aren't giving in and he stayed. It is easier to do this now then when she is 4 years old like that boy was. Good luck.