Ds is almost 6 and still in my bed. - Page 2

[Kailey's mom]

My guess.. even if you did do things differently.. he'd still be in your bed today.

[SunshineJ]

Originally Posted by Kailey's mom

My guess.. even if you did do things differently.. he'd still be in your bed today.

And this may well be true! DS like I said is still in our room and weasels his way in our bed on occasion. DD was raised in the same house, same treatment, but different temperment. She's 2 yrs younger than DS. I can count the number of nights she's spent in our bed the last year on probably one hand. Now in our room, the numbers a bit higher but probably still under 20. She prefers to sleep in her own bed in her own room. She has always hated co-sleeping (STOP touching me!! I need MORE space! You're breathing TOO LOUD! You get the idea!). Even if I had been totally determined to co-sleep with that child it would never have worked well for her. So it makes sense that the reverse would be true for some children as well.

[magicHat]

I would try the air mattress (maybe you can get a good deal on craigslist) on the floor by your bed or use every cushion and blanket in the house to make a comfy spot for him and try to stick it out for a while. Maybe use a sticker chart or some kind of reward for staying on it all night-something like if he does it for a full week, you take him out for ice cream, another two weeks and you take him and a friend out. Then after he's comfortable with that for a while, maybe a few months, try the next step...him in his bed. And up the rewards like he gets to have a sleepover with 2 friends if he sleeps in his room a full week. It's bound to be hard for a few nights (or maybe longer) doing both transitions. Or maybe do the friend sleepover reward while you are still having him on the floor in your room but explain that the sleepover happens in his room. Who knows, maybe having the kids over sleeping w/him in his room will make him see that it's not scary and he'll be willing to try it on his own? Just some ideas.

Co-sleeping until/beyond school age isn't for everyone and it's not like you are kicking him to the curb. Good luck!

[racheepoo]

By differently, I mean starting this process at 3. He was ready at 3, had a new bed and everything and very excited about it, and due to some stuff going on with our family situation, I kept him in my bed. He's been extremely high-needs from the beginning and I'd never go back and let him cio. Chill

[jtbuko]

A couple random options...

What if you try sleeping with him in HIS bed for a few nights and then start transitioning back to your own bed half way through the night?

Also my son (6) has a remote control moon in his room. His is from National Geographic, but I saw something similar at Target. He keeps the remote under his pillow and if he wakes at night he can turn it on from bed. He totally digs this! Not sure if it would speak to your son, but it can't hurt.

[racheepoo]

We have the moon in my room, yep. I do lay down with him until he falls asleep. That's the only way it's ever worked. I'm not sure on the transition to my bed...seems like he'd get used to sleeping together in his bed instead of mine.

I will have to give this some thought and decide how badly I want to work on this, I guess!