Tips to get your toddler sleeping and staying put in their own bed

You’ve tried lullabies and fairytales but your toddler still keeps on finding their way to your bed. Before bedtime they may appear comfortable and ready to fall and stay asleep in their own bed but in the middle of the night, you find them cosying up to you.
We’ve compiled some tips and tricks to get your child to enjoy sleeping in their own bed with the aim of creating a routine that they will come to love and enjoy and more importantly look forward to sleeping on their own bed.
If your child is afraid of the dark, place a lamp next to their bedside using a low kilowatt light bulb which will not light up the room too brightly but provides enough lighting for them to feel safe to sleep in. As time goes on, begin popping into their room to switch the lamp off with the aim of getting them accustomed to waking up with the light completely off.
Spend a few minutes tucking your child in and talking to them about their day. This will help to get their mind off being alone in the room. Wait until they have dozed off and if they sneak into your room, let them fall asleep and have a conversation about what you can do to make them feel more comfy in their own space. Be patient with your little one, they may be experiencing separation anxiety and the last thing you want to do is make them feel rejected.
Go shopping for a teddy bear or toy that will become your child’s official bed mate. Make an occasion of the experience and explain to your toddler that the cuddly toy will keep them company every night and will not go anywhere. Be clear that this is not a replacement for you but rather a stand in and that you will always be there.
Use relaxation techniques to get your child to ease their mind and calm down. Show them how to breathe in and out, lift their shoulders up and down and move their neck slowly from side to side.
Ensure that you have a set routine each day such as dinner, followed by a bath, a story and some tucking in before switching off the light or lamp. Children appreciate routine and feel safe when they have structure.
Keep crayons and paper on the side of the bed and encourage your child to draw any scary characters that they have seen in their dreams. Talk to them about what they have dreamt about and explain that dreams are normal and that sometimes there are nice dreams and nightmares. The aim is to make your child feel comfortable in their own bed, understanding that dreams are a normal occurrence of life and that each day they can look forward to a peaceful night’s rest.
Lastly keep your frustration under control. Yelling at your child will only make them feel scared and will not help them sleep better. Speak in a gentle tone, make jokes and laugh to show them that sleeping alone isn’t something to fear but to embrace as they grow older.