We have been trying everything to get our son to fall asleep in his own bed without it taking hours to get him to sleep. We tried everything we could think of without doing medication. We tried sitting out of his room then putting him back in his bed. That so did not work just made us more frustrated.
After months of doing research for the right method to put our son to bed, no matter what method we tried it just did not work. We even went as far as getting a sleep study done and making sure nothing was wrong with his sleep.
I spent an hour and half trying to get him to bed one night all it end up with a battle and meltdown after meltdown until his dad went in his room and laid down with him. The next day I spent a lot of time searching for a method that would work. I found some ideas and oh boy did it work. Our hours of fighting went to a calm 10 minutes of going to sleep. I explain to my son before bedtime how bedtime will go. Below are the steps I did to get my son to bed.
1. We started getting ready 45 minutes before I wanted him to go to bed. Before I took him upstairs to get ready. I had him pick a book for his dad to read to him so he can have dad time before we went upstairs.
2. Children like to be in control and independent. I let my son pick out two books he wanted me to read to him and let him pick out his own pajamas. Letting him control what he was wearing to bed and what books we were reading made him feel like a big boy.
3. Bushing his teeth and put pajamas on in the bathroom. He started acting really silly. I told him he need to shake out all his goofiness before we can go in his room.
4. Once he was in his room I turn on his lava lamp and his diffuser. I use night time oil(Now peaceful sleep)in his room for 30 minutes then shut it off. We read our books and his bedtime prayer book.
5. After reading our books he kept hearing noises outside. I could tell he was scared so I told him it was okay but did he want to listen to music. I turn some bedtime music(children sleep songs app) on my phone. He started settled down within 10 minutes after reading his books he was asleep. He wanted me to lay with him so I did. Our sleep study specialist said it was fine as long as it was in his room plus I could tell it would not be long before he was asleep and getting up meant might having to start bedtime all over again.
I am so thankful that we have a calm bedtime instead of fighting for hours to get him to go to sleep. I hope these tips help and you can have a calm bedtime to. I also cut tv off at 5:00 pm and he can not have his phone that he plays games on. No sugary snacks after 5:00 pm. I would recommend getting something to play bedtime music so it can play all night.
Blessing,
April