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The challenge of getting toddlers to sleep in their own beds

Many children, especially very young ones, like to sleep with their parents. However, there comes a time when they need to start sleeping in their own beds, and getting toddlers to sleep in their own beds can sometimes be quite a challenge.

First of all, once you tell your toddler that he/she must sleep in their own bed, do not back down, do not change your mind, do not give in to their demands to sleep with you. If you change your mind, if you give in, all you will be doing is reinforcing the idea that if they try hard enough they will get their own way and getting toddlers to sleep in their own beds may never happen.

Next, try to determine what the underlying cause for their reluctance to sleep in their own beds. Asking the toddler outright will probably not provide you with the information you need as they can sometimes be unaware of why they are acting the way they are. An excellent way to discover what your toddler is really thinking or feeling is through playtime.

An excellent way to getting toddlers to sleep in their own beds by finding out why they don't want to is through the use of dolls. Play dolls with your toddler and let the toddler act out a bedtime scenario. Frequently, the child's real feelings and thoughts about bedtime will be expressed as the words of the doll.

Using paints and/or crayons also allows your toddler to express themselves. As the child opens up, don't squash their self-expression by being negative or criticizing their feelings. This can be especially hard if they say something you don't like hearing. But, to keep the lines of communication open you must remain calm and open yourself.

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