Fun Ways to Get Your Kids to Sleep in Their Bed

Creepy Hunt

• Many preschoolers and younger elementary school-aged children have difficulty with nightmares and night terrors. Going to sleep may be scary to them and their imaginations tend to get in the way of a good night's sleep. Give your child a small spray bottle of water and label it "Scare-Go-Away" or something else creative. Tell your child that you will spray it together every night to keep her room safe from anything creepy or scary. Make a fun game out of the spraying, having your child point out spots in her room that are particularly creepy at night. Often, just talking through the things that scare your child will help her tremendously, but spraying the room adds an element of fun.

Flashlights

• If your child is afraid of the dark and therefore wanders through the house at night looking for you, let him keep a flashlight on his bed. Show him how to make silly shadows on the ceiling with his flashlight. You can also show him how to do Morse code, flashing his light in a series to make a secret code. Allow your child to sleep with the flashlight on as long as he needs to and keep it near his bed so he can reach for it in the middle of the night if he is to wake up.

Routine

• Never underestimate the power of a good bedtime routine in getting your children to stay in their beds. Give children a warning about five minutes before beginning the bedtime routine. Remind children often what will happen during the routine and that bedtime will be right after you finish the routine. A good bedtime routine includes a bath, or at least washing hands and faces as well as brushing teeth. After a bath, put on pajamas and have the child climb into bed. This is a good time to spend a few minutes with your child, asking about her day, telling her about your day and reminding her of any events coming up the next day. If your child is still young, this is a good time for a bedtime story, song or both. Tell your child goodnight and leave the room. Children will become used to the routine very quickly and will begin to understand that staying in their bed is part of the routine. If your child wanders out of her room, remind her gently that it is time to stay in bed and guide her back to her room without too much discussion.

Rewards

• For children who are frequent night wanderers, it may be necessary to reward them for staying in their beds. First, be sure their room is comfortable and inviting. If it is too hot or too cold, make adjustments. Be sure the bed is comfortable for them and their pajamas are not too tight or making them itch. Allowing your child to choose sheets for his bed will also add to the appeal of his room. Choosing character sheets or a special color that she likes will make her feel like her room is hers alone, and will help reinforce the lesson you are trying to teach. After a night of getting up, tell your child that if she can stay in her own bed for an entire night, she will get a sticker on a chart. If she stays in her bed every night for one week, she will get a small prize. Soon your child will not need the rewards and will begin to stay in her room simply because of the routine.