OK, this is backwards day over at Rocks in my Dryer . That means I get to ask a question and hopefully some one can help me with an answer. So here we go...
I have a 9 year old (to be ten next month) boy, a 7 year old girl, a 2 year old (to be three next month) boy and a baby on the way. Right now the two boys share a room and my daughter has her own room. We have one extra room that has been a play/guest room. We are considering moving the oldest into that room and then putting the baby in with the toddler. The problem is that the toddler won't sleep in his room alone. We have done some practice nights and he just won't go to bed by himself. My older son gets lots of credit because he is very gracious and always agrees to come back into the room with the toddler.
The baby isn't due until April and will probably sleep in my room for a while, but I know my oldest wants his privacy. And being 10 next month, I think he should be able to have it. So if you have some advice on getting my toddler to like having his own room, and getting him to sleep there, let me know!
Thanks!
Ask him. Maybe a new night light or flash light if he's afraid of the dark. What about a cool bed tent. http://www.lillianvernon.com/catalog/thumbnail.jsp?parentCatId=2&catId=9&subCatId=74& They have them shaped like rocket ships, police cars, fire trucks....
ReplyDeleteHTH
For my niece who couldn't sleep alone in a room (because of monsters), we got a spray bottle and put glitter and water in it. We labeled it Monster Spray and she sprayed it under the bed and in the closet before bed.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor put a tv in the bedroom for her son so he could go to sleep watching his favorite cartoons. It worked.
The only idea I have is letting the kids sleep together, but have their own rooms during the day for their stuff. Not sure if that will work with your bed situation, though.
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Have you read No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers? It was VERY helpful for my kids, both of whom are notoriously horrid sleepers. It has TONS of ideas. I am sure there is something in there to help.
ReplyDeletePut boys in one room, girls in another. Our boys will always share a room for the bonding aspect. I actually recetly wrote a blog on this subject.
ReplyDeleteOur boys talk and laugh and plan and bond together at night before falling asleep. They've also created the best birthday cards under cover of bedtime.
We are strict about bedtime and they get to spend time sharing and being brothers.
Plus a local playroom is good because agin they can be together.
So far our boys are still best freinds. Age 11 and 13.
I say, take your time. Close to the arrival of a new child is not the time to be making big changes because everyone regresses and the new baby can be blamed for changes they don't like and resentment can follow. With that said, I think in six months, the toddler may have matured to where this is not even a question.
ReplyDeleteMy other suggestion (regardless of whether you follow the first one) would be to make it a big deal about how this is being done as fun for the toddler. Ignore the fear of being alone. Redecorate the room. Talk about how fun it is going to be so much fun. Assume the toddler will like it and talk about all the special things you're doing to make it just for the toddler, and chances are, the toddler will make the change with very little, if any, difficulty. What you think about, you bring about. Talk about it as though it is working out the way it is going to be rather than talking about your concerns and the kids will think the change is normal rather than some big ordeal.
Sorry if I'm rambling....
Tana
www.life.tanapageler.com