My 5 1/2 year old is affraid to sleep in her room

[christalnichol]

My daughter has slept in the bed with my husband and myself since she was a infant. 1st it was because we had a one bed room. We moved into a 2 BR place when she was a year and a half. Since she wouldn't stay in her room. We even had her bed next to ours. Untill my husband (and I) got fed up with having to pat her back or hold her hand to get her to sleep. She even resorted to staying up untill I went to bed with her.
Now she is 5 1/2, and about to start school. We have tried and tried. She has had very few nights where she slept threw the night.
We have NO idea what to do.

Please help....

Christal

[margypops]

Heres what you do , and if you are desperate you will try it usually takes a few days of consistancy and not sending her mixed message,Dont give her much in the way of milky drinks in the evening in fact if she is well hydrated during the day she doesnt need much liquid at night, as this keeps them alert and wanting to go to the bathroom a lot. You have the same routine every night, take her at her bed time in to her room, sit with her and read 2 stories,  give her a hug and leave the room, the door can be left open, she will yell, ignore it, say nothing... she will come out, just mutter quiet ,calming things and lead her back, tuck her in, she may keep this up for a while each time you take her back, do not get upset ,the least words the better.As I said it can take a few days it will be tiring but it does work, its in your hands she has learnt the behavior because you have allowed her to do what she wants, I know its tough but if you want her to sleep in her own bed you need to stick to it so she knows the rules. If you dont mind her sleeping with you, thats okay aswell and many parents do this ,it is a matter of choice.Good Luck let us know if it works so others may know .

[mina46]

Did you ask her why she does'nt want to sleep in her own bed. Sometime there just scared and sleeping with their parents makes the feel safe. My younger brother slept with my parents until the was 10 years old. Just that when they sleep on their own bed they feel alone. Try talking to her and try to convinvce her how cool it is to sleep on her own bed. You can lay down with her until she falls asleep. Have a night light because maybe she just scared. Also Have like a big stuffed animal. ( I had a big dog when I was small and I liked it because it felt like I wasnt alone.) She would probably feel the same way. My niece has monkeys and she loves sleeping with them.