by Chrissy Harrison

Created on: November 25, 2008

Transitioning your child from your bed to his or her own can be a difficult and challenging task. By learning different techniques and strategies, you can help ease this change for your child and for yourself making it happen much smoother and making it less complicated and challenging. Keep in mind that this can seem like a very big change, and it may not happen very quickly. Making this step can also be as hard on the parent(s) as it will seem for your child, and you need to ensure that both your child along with yourself are ready for this change. If you try to transition your child too soon, this may cause a lot of emotion and frustration. Here are some tips and ideas for helping to transition your child into his or her own bed.

DON'T OVER COMPLICATE

Having your child take the step into sleeping on his or her own can be a big achievement and although it may be easy to create more attention than necessary, try not to. This can overwhelm your child, making him or her want to stay with the same routine. Keeping it to the point, and ensuring that the emphasis is on how well he is she is adjusting. Try not to give your child the option to return to your bed, as this might make the transition take longer. First you may also want to think about the reasons your child may be attached to sleeping with you. If you are nursing you may want to try weaning your child of night feedings. If you find that your child enjoys just being close to you while he sleeps try first sleeping in his or her new bed if possible. You may also wish to first start your child in his or her bed during napping hours while your child would not normally be in bed with you if your child has not already been doing so.

MAKE THE CHANGE AN EXCITING ONE

By creating a room or area for your child to call his or her own can mean a lot to your child. Knowing things that spark his or her interests can make this seem exciting and fun, and help them feel like the are gaining something instead of letting go of old habits. If possible, when picking out things for your child's new bed, or for there space or room being your child with you and allow them to choose items, designs or characters while explaining why you are purchasing these things. Let your child know ahead of time that they are going to be sleeping in his or her own bed, but try not to make the point about leaving yours. When putting the bed together, putting the bedding on, and while decorating allow your child to also participate. This will help your child feel proud of the area or room and helping them to feel even more like it belongs to him or her.

BE ENCOURAGING

Children love to know they are pleasing their parents, but also like to feel independence and gratified. Although praising your child is a wonderful way of showing them how much you have acknowledged his or her achievements, and how wonderful he or she is, sometimes just simply encouraging your child will further increase your child's willingness to accomplish tasks and therefore leading to praise. Telling your child that you know they are able to sleep on their own, and how well you know they can do this will help your child feel a sense of accomplishment and help ease your child into this transition. Once the transition has been made, your child will feel a sense of pride, and independence therefore receiving praise for making the change and helping the child feel more accomplished.

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