Hello!

Advice on how to help our 3 year old sleep in her bed? I have a 3 year old daughter and 9 month old daughter as well. Ever since we moved to our new house my first one would not sleep at night, ever since my 2nd bub arrived she will not sleep on her own anymore. Last night we tried but she got up at 1am and moved to our bed. Tonight at the moment she’s asleep but don’t know when she will shout. By the way second one is using the same bedroom. I really need some help about my first girl. Thank you

Posted by Sarah, 15/11/13

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  • Maybe setting up a nighttime routine and asking for her input, eg. Bath, brush teeth, read story and cuddle up with favourite toy in her cot.


  • there are some good comments here


  • How is she going now?


  • I hope you got it all sorted out.


  • some great advice from DEANGUNNA


  • Any luck with the suggestions below?


  • i hope it worked out :)


  • “I have the same problem”


  • How are you going with it now?


  • she might be scared of the new move, maybe give her something special to sleep with and she might love sleeping in her room


  • Relax…………First off keep her in her own bed as letting her into yours will only end with no room for you and hubby. If she wakes just get up and let her know everything is all right and to go back to sleep. If you have to sit with her, leave a light on in the passage, special teddy by all means do this. I had a little boy who consistently woke and after many things worked out his bed it best in the end. I now only have to say your ok and he goes back to sleep. Just be prepared for a little resistance and a little less sleep until she settles.


  • Some great advice here, thanks for asking.


  • Maybe you could try staying in her room until she doses off. It’s more than likely a bit of separation anxiety which is common. Especially when there’s a change or younger sibling. You could try laying next to her or having a mattress for yourself to stay with her until she falls asleep.


  • It’s a hard one. We have just got our almost three year old to stay in bed. He has his little brother in his room too so it can get tricky. Sometimes we have to lie down with him. Hoping it gets easier as he gets older. The little one seems to sleep through most of it!


  • Interesting one as im only just getting my daughter 5 into her big bed


  • Why not move a mattress into her room and camp out for a while? That worked well in our house (we dont do CIO)


  • We used a reward chart and an Ok To Wake light/clock with our 3yr old


  • If you don’t want them there you have to keep marching them back to their own bed :-( Maybe a sticker chart leading to a special reward might help, and like suggested above maybe a new snuggle buddy or new quilt cover or a night light may help. They may need to be worn out more during the day or ditch a day sleep too if they are having one.


  • I would give her a night light in her room to start with, once she is settled in to bed, give her a kiss goodnight and cuddle etc, turn the main light off and walk away, your probably going to have to do this severel times a night over a few nights until she learns she has to sleep in her own bed, if she comes into your bed during the night, take her back to her bed and settle her down, you may have to repeat this a few times over a few nights but she will learn.


  • Maybe she is scared or just feels like she needs you near. Have you tried a night light or a special night time toy. Have you asked her why she keeps coming in and is there something about her room that she doesn’t like. we have 7 children. We have had 2 do this. Our daughter is three and also does this, she sleeps in a room with her two older sisters. She has a night light. We often spend special time with her on putting her to bed and sit with her for a few minutes, and we encourage her to stay in her bed. Some nights she does and in the morning she receives lots of praise. On the nights she doesn’t no praise and we talk about why she needed to come in and that she needs to stay in her bed. She also gets taken back to her bed as soon as she arrives in ours as we are trying to not create a habit. My advice is take her back immediately, remind her that she needs to stay in her bed and talk to her about why she is coming in and try to come up with some simple solutions like a night light, special night toy, or other such comfort that will help her to happily stay in her own bed.


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