Getting your child to sleep in their own bed
For quick results, set aside a few days when it doesn't matter if you're tired, such as a weekend. When your child wakes up and comes into your bed, take them straight back. Offer them a drink of water if they want one but not juice, which might be worth waking up for! Settle them down and then go back to your own room. If they get up again, repeat this over and over again. It might be rather tiring, but eventually it will work.
For a more gradual solution, take them back to their own bed, stay with them for a short time, slowly decreasing the amount of time that you stay.
A more unusual approach is to wake him during the night before he normally wakes himself. Give him a drink, settle him down again and hopefully he'll stay there. Gradually stop waking him and you might break the habit.
Professor John Pearce, author of the Baby And Toddler Sleep Programme (Vermilion, £7.99)
By Professor John Pearce
Share this article
Find out more
Get to more facts
Find expert help
Your stories & tips
Quick Tips
- Be the first to share a tip on this subject, click here





kayanush, 11 months [Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment.]
Hi, My daughter is 2 years old and refusing to sleep in her bed .The first half of the night if she hasnt slept all day , goes very well ..She sleep without me being there , but the second half of the night , she wants her milk and i tried giving her water but she creats such tantrums by crying loudly and i cannot afford to wake my neighbours up . Then she wants me to sleep next to her and specially during morning hours if she doesnot find me next to her she howl and cries .I have only one room and so we sleep in the same room ..Can you please help me trying to put my daughter to sleep on her bed without waking up in the nighta nd sleeping on her own.. Thank you