Why Your Child Doesn’t Sleep in His Own Bed
Sleep has an important place in the child’s development process. Various physical and mental functions occur during the sleep phase. Children who sleep soundly are more successful in their daily lives and mental functions. Sleep quality is a factor that protects the child against various psychological disorders. Therefore, sleeping habits should be taught to the child at an early age. Sleeping in the child’s own bed is one of the most important stages in sleep habits. This process can be challenging for parents in some cases. There are different methods that can be used to get the child used to sleeping in his own bed. Families can help improve their children’s sleep patterns by using these techniques.
Investigate the Reasons Why Your Child Doesn’t Sleep in His Own Bed
Understanding the reasons is one of the main methods that can be used to get the child used to sleeping in his own bed. There may be many reasons behind your child’s reluctance to sleep in his own room. Some of these reasons are as follows:
- Activities before bedtime:The intensity and duration of activities such as brushing your child’s teeth, bathing, and putting on pajamas before your child goes to bed can affect your energy as a parent. Your child may be affected along with you in this confusion. As a result, pre-sleep preparations may not be a comfortable time for you and your child.
- Your child may not be tired enough:Like every individual, children spend certain levels of energy during the day. Children who do not show enough activity in their daily lives may have difficulty sleeping.
- Major changes: Children may be slow to get used to various changes occurring within the family. Different factors such as a new sibling, change of caregiver, moving or changing your child’s room, starting kindergarten or a new school can be perceived as a big change for your child. The restlessness that comes with change may manifest itself in your child with sleep problems.
- Nap times: Certain amounts of sleep are recommended for all ages. For children aged 1 or 2, 11-14 hours of sleep per day is sufficient. In older children, this period becomes shorter and shorter. Napping, also known as naps, can affect basic sleep comfort if they take up a large portion of your child’s daily sleep needs or are timed incorrectly.
- Nightmares: Nightmares, which can occur at any age, can have more serious effects on the child’s psychology. The frequency and severity of nightmares are other factors that can affect sleep quality in children. Sleep disorders, such as sleep terrors, can result in the child being resistant to sleep. Sleep terrors are a disorder often seen in children and characterized by waking up feeling extremely frightened. If you think your child may have a sleep disorder, you can first get support from a pedagogue or a specialist child psychiatrist.
- Anxiety about being alone: One of the problems that can be encountered during childhood is separation anxiety. In such a situation, children may hesitate to sleep in their own rooms for fear of being away from their parents. In some cases, your child may want you to be with him or hold his hand until he falls asleep. In such cases, you should not force your child and take a patient and supportive approach.
Create Your Bedtime Routine
Some special regions in the brain create a biological clock for various activities during the day. Sleeping is one of these activities. This is why it is important to set a certain sleep time for your child. Sleeping hours can be determined depending on the child’s age and factors such as kindergarten and nursery. You can follow your bedtime routine in a relaxing atmosphere 15-20 minutes before bedtime. Within this routine, you can spare time for your child’s personal needs and activities such as calming stories and songs. It may also be useful to determine how much time you will spend with your child to get him used to sleeping alone. Having certain hours for the sleep preparation process shortens the time it takes for the child to fall asleep. Thus, the time spent awake in bed can be minimized. This is important so that your child does not worry about sleep. Thanks to the existence of a routine prepared in this way and its consistency, you can support your child’s healthy sleep process.
Prepare a Convenient Environment for Sleeping
One of the important factors for the child to sleep in his own room is the order in the room. Good ventilation of the room can make the process of falling asleep easier. It is important to provide a comfortable atmosphere during the time of preparation for sleep. For this reason, a very bright or noisy environment should be avoided. When your child goes to bed, you can dim the lights in the room. During sleep, you can turn off all the lights or keep them on at a low level. Different educational toys can be used to get the child used to his/her room. Thus, the child can spend time in his room during the day. Various activities in the child’s room contribute to the process of getting used to the room. Additionally, when your child goes to bed, you can increase his comfort by giving him his favorite toys. For older children, you can keep water in an accessible place. This way, you can minimize the reasons your child gets out of bed. You can decide together on all the innovations you can make in your child’s room, taking into account his or her ideas. In this way, your child can sleep comfortably in his own room.
What You Can Do When Your Child Gets Out of Bed at Night
Even though some children have no problem falling asleep, they may get out of bed during the night. Children who get out of bed may want to sleep with their parents. It is important to have a patient and understanding attitude in such situations. You can find appropriate solutions by finding out the reason why your child gets out of bed. Your child may get scared and come to you for any reason. You can talk to him in a calm tone to alleviate his fear. You can comfort your child during this period by accompanying him until he goes to bed. When your child goes to bed, you can caress his head, hold his hand, give him skin-to-skin contact or give him a small kiss, and get up slowly. If his fear continues, you can help him relax by reminding him that you can always be there for him, by stating that his door can be left ajar. When your child asks you to sleep with him, it is very important for both parents to have a firm attitude. Thanks to these approaches you can take to get your child used to sleeping alone, you can create a healthy sleep routine for him.
Be Encouraging
This period in which your child acquires sleeping habits may not be easy for him. During this process, the child should be encouraged to get used to sleeping in a separate room. For this purpose, you can read different stories or sing relaxing songs to your child when he goes to bed. Additionally, you can help your child with the arrangements he wants to make in his own room. You can take his choices into consideration when making any changes you plan to make. For example, when choosing a bed, you can choose a type that makes your child feel comfortable. Such approaches are effective in helping the child adopt his room and bed. If your child gets out of bed frequently during the night, you should definitely remind him that you appreciate him and are proud of him the next morning after he managed to sleep in his bed. A child who sees that his action is appreciated will be more willing to repeat that behavior. Thus, it can play an active role in the formation of sleep patterns at its own discretion.
Demonstrate a Determined Attitude
It is important to set some limits regarding your child’s sleep patterns. For example, a story you read before bed may not be enough for your child some days. When you encounter such a situation, you should not deviate from your normal routine and guide him/her that it is time to sleep. When your child wants to sleep with you for one night, you can accompany him to bed, remembering that this may happen again later. Children who go to bed may ask their parents to wait by their side. Similarly, they may cry in an attempt to bring their parents to their side. In such cases, your determination regarding your sleep routine becomes important. The limits you set contribute to your child’s ability to sleep soundly during his development phase. Remembering that all the methods you use to get your child used to sleeping in his own bed are for his comfort may help you to have a determined attitude. In all matters related to your child’s sleep problems, you should consult a physician who is an expert in child health, diseases and psychology.
