The transition from co-sleeping to a toddler bed doesn’t have to be a struggle, especially if your toddler is as ready as you are. Things will be smoother if he is reluctant to make all the transitions smoother. The key is to be consistent but flexible and encouraging but not forceful. teach your child to sleep in his bed gradually, and you will gradually meet success.
The conversation begins. Talk to your spouse about your child, starting to sleep in his own, sometimes when the child will listen. Talk directly with your toddler about this too, or even about his teddy bear. Ask what they think about it with the questions, “Do you have to wake up to have your own bed?”
Let them choose their own bed and bedding, as well as some special pillows, and encourage them to help you make the bed and put it on the bed. Show excitement about the new purchase. Is it a bed? What a cool pillow! Didn’t you wake up sleeping in your shiny, new bed tonight?
Establish a good habit before you try the transition, and follow it the first night. In our house we have a bath, brush our teeth, get into our pajamas and then wrap up when they kiss goodnight. That’s all it takes! Let’s have some quiet READ time before TV or read a story. The important thing here is to use it regularly and do some final cleaning before bed.
Do everything your child needs. A glass of water? Wait. Favorite teddy bear and blanket? Wait, check. Dry free? Wait. Are they hungry? Do they need it? Make sure they have enough heat and the right lighting to fall asleep on.
Now is the time, but don’t give up! The first night is just in his bed in his room. They don’t just go to your room and sleep in your bed . Lay down with your child until he falls asleep, at least for the first few nights and preferably in the first week. When they sleep, slip away with silence, and come back if they wake up and ask for you again.
Finally, they will be ready to spend the night with you. Be careful not to look at them too often until I fall asleep. If they ask you to sleep with them, do it, but stay a little longer.
Inevitably, sometimes they will wake up in the night and want to go back to your bed. It is good, especially in the beginning. It usually doesn’t last forever, and it won’t hurt to put them back at night. If it has become a habit, you will have to put your foot down – gently. When they stop sleeping in your bed, bring them back to their bed and put them back together. Stay for a while, or even until I fall asleep, and then return to your bed, as at the beginning.
So my son passed to his bed. After our usual time, I kiss him goodnight, and then my husband lies with him until he falls asleep. First, it took every hour every night, and I needed my father to come once or twice throughout the night. Little by little he began to sleep more quickly, and his father needed less frequent vigils at night. Within three months we were able to tie him up and leave him, and he was sleeping in his own bed. He still joins us in our bed, but he is fine with us!
