How to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents? Tips and Tricks

Children of any age quickly get used to sleeping with their parents. Toddlers who have since their birth slept with them in the same bed, it is then very difficult to shift to a night's sleep in a baby bed. How to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents? More details about this we will tell in our article.

Optimal age for self-sleep

Of course, the most important thing in the life of a newborn baby is that the mother is always nearby. Therefore, parents, in order to provide the most comfortable psychological conditions for a crumb, lay him on a dream next to him. But as the little man grows up, they are puzzled by the question: "How to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents?"

Psychologists say that the most suitable age for shifting the baby into your own crib is 2 years. But this statement does not fit all the kids. Parents need to carefully monitor their baby. This will help to see when he will be ready to move into his bed.

How to understand that a child can sleep alone?

So, to determine if the child is ready to sleep alone in his crib, parents should pay attention to the following points:

• The process of breastfeeding is safely completed.
• The baby sleeps several hours in a row (5-6) and does not wake up.
• The child can spend time alone in the room (20 minutes) and do not call an adult.
• When he wakes up and does not see his mother next to him, he reacts to it normally (he does not cry).
• The kid does not often ask for his mother.
• The child has formed the concept of his property ("mine").

If all of the above questions parents can give a positive answer, then we can say with confidence that the child is ready to move to his bed.

When is it time to wait?

To the question of how to teach a child to sleep separately from parents on their own, one should be treated very responsibly. Extreme measures and coercive actions can cause psychological trauma to the child, as a result of which he will have various phobias and fears. Therefore, in the following cases, you should wait with "resettlement":

• The baby is irritable, crying, sometimes hysterical.
• He has a trauma or a serious pathology.
• Child is sick.
• The baby's teeth are chopped.
• Change of climate, time zones, habitual situation.
• The child undergoes adaptation in the kindergarten.
• Mom is pregnant (in this case it was worth shifting the baby into the crib long before the important event).

All these cases are a serious reason to delay with the decision of a question how to accustom the child to sleep separately from parents.

Independent sleep of children in 1 year

Without the mother usually refuse to sleep the children who have since birth slept next to her. Of course, for a mother after pregnancy and childbirth, sharing a dream with a baby is a very good option. Therefore, most often adults begin to wonder how to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents, at 1 year.

Until then, babies often wake up due to activity or the need for motion sickness, and also to eat. Adults should know the important conditions that must be observed in order to solve the problem of how to teach a child to fall asleep separately from their parents:

• To put the child to bed better at the same time.
• Do not miss the day's sleep because the child is better off falling asleep in the evening. In the regime of children under one year, he must be present.
• Observe the feeding regime, so that the child does not wake up from feeling hungry after having fallen asleep.

How to teach a child to sleep alone in 1 year?

One-year-old children need to be taught in a step-by-step manner to independent sleep. It is better to start this with a day's sleep. When mum will put the child in a crib, it is necessary to sit with him, pat on the head or give him a hand. You can offer the kid a new "friend" - a toy.

Now a lot of toys-hugs, which are very convenient to take with them into the crib. Children with them usually fall asleep more quietly. Mom does not need to leave the room at first, you can, for example, read or knit, sitting near a baby crib. Gradually, when the child will get used, it will be possible to leave it to fall asleep one.

Estiville method

This method is designed for children 1-2 years. In foreign countries, it is considered the most common. This is an effective method that will help solve the problem of how to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents.

In 3 years, this method does not work. Children older than three years already protest violently enough against the will of parents, so resorting to this method can cause great harm to the child, causing a strong emotional shock.

What is the essence of the technique of Esteville? The author says that parents should immediately leave after they put the child in a separate crib. If the baby gets up in it, cries or screams, then mom does not need to approach it right away. It is necessary to wait a minute for the first time, and only then to enter, put the child in the crib and then leave again. And so gradually increase the intervals of return to the room. Sooner or later the baby will fall asleep.

When mom returns to the bedroom, she makes it clear to the kid that he is not alone, that he was not abandoned. The key to success will be the calmness and perseverance of parents. The Esteville method can be used only if the child has no psychological or neurological pathologies.

Independent sleep of children 2 years old

How to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents in 2 years? With such children it is already possible to negotiate and clarify the situation. It is necessary to explain to the crumb that every member of the family should have his own bed. It is necessary to tell the child that he is already an adult and can easily sleep in his bed.

Usually children of this age imitate adults, so the probability that a son or daughter will agree to go to bed in the daytime is quite large. Gradually, the baby will get used to the new bed and stay there for the night.

Better to put the crib at the first time next to the parent, as the child is important to know that they are nearby. Psychologists do not recommend adults to lull a child near them, and then transfer it to their crib. This method works only the first couple of times, and then the kid becomes capricious and restless: he will be afraid to wake up at night alone.

Independent sleep of children of three years

Children of this age are big dreamers, so parents will have to show not only patience, but also to include savvy. Magic fairy tales for the night, amazing stories will help adults in solving problems, how to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents.

In 3 years of crumbs, you can say that at night he will be transferred to a magical land or a fairy tale, where any desires will be fulfilled. Also with children of two or three years the method of "training" works well: the child needs to help choose a comfortable pose for sleep. It happens that children simply can not lie down comfortably. If the baby wants to take a toy with him into the crib, you must definitely allow it.

How to teach a child to sleep on their own in 4-5 years?

As a rule, children of 4-5 years refuse to sleep in a separate room or in their beds for certain reasons:

• Fear of darkness;
• Fear of an unknown creature or monster;
• Terrible fantasies;
• Fear of death.

How to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents? In 4 years and older, children can sleep better if the night lamp burns in the room. Also, parents with a child should necessarily talk about his fears and experiences and try to convince him that at home he absolutely nothing threatens.

The kid should understand that mom or dad is next door in the next room and, if necessary, they will come to the rescue.

Why do children sleep badly at 6-7?

There are such children who can not sleep separately from their parents, even in the senior preschool age. Usually, this is caused by various phobias and fears, as in the five-year plans.

Children who went to school can be distressed because of grades, lessons, or fear of disapproval by the teacher. How to teach a child to sleep separately from parents at 6 years old (7 years)? The method of gradual addiction will help here, but it can be shortened.

Of course, parents need to talk as much as possible with the child, find out the cause of his fear. Children at any age should feel the help and support of parents, feel that they are not alone, that in case of danger they will certainly help.

If parents can not cope with the problem, how to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents at age 7, alone, should involve a child psychologist.

Gradual removal

A good method that will help to solve the problem of how to teach a child to sleep separately from parents in 5 years and older is the method of gradual removal. Mom should tell the baby that she will move away from the bed every day and stay there until he falls asleep. It will look something like this:

• In the first 2-3 days you can sit with the child next to the bed.
• Then within two days the mother sits next to the bed, until the child falls asleep.
• In the next couple of days, mom does not wait until the baby goes to sleep. After sitting for a while near the crib, she leaves, but remains in sight of the child.
• In the days that follow, Mom leaves the door, but first you need to sit with the child a little bit about the bed.

The door to the room must be closed only when the baby sleeps alone alone.

Special rituals

In order for the child to fall asleep more quickly, it is necessary to perform the same actions every day. This evening bathing, watching a cartoon, reading a fairy tale, talking with your mom or dad about the past day, about impressions and so on.

Such daily rituals contribute to the development of a certain habit in a child: to fall asleep immediately, as soon as the baby wears pajamas, brushed his teeth. Many children fall asleep more quickly, when they wait for something good and interesting. For example, on weekends parents promised to take the child to a zoo, a cafe or a film - you can even close your eyes and dream about this event.

Some babies quickly fall asleep when mom just lays around next to her. If the child asks the mother to stay with him for the whole night, you can resort to a little trick: to say that next to, while the mother is washing, brushing her teeth, lying down a toy, and she will come in about twenty minutes. In such cases, the baby usually falls asleep on his own.

Another trick (for children 1-3 years) - you can hang on the back of the crib mother's thing, for example, a robe. The kid will feel the presence of the mother and fall asleep calmly.

What else do you need to remember?

Adopting a child for independent sleep should not become difficult for him. Adults will need patience and time in such a difficult business, how to teach a child to sleep separately from their parents. Psychologists' advice :

• Approximately one hour before a dream with a child, you do not need to play mobile games, talk loudly, watch entertainment programs.
• Observe daily evening rituals.
• To sleep, the baby needs to create comfortable conditions: a comfortable mattress and pillow, soft pajamas and bed linens. The room before going to bed is better to ventilate.
• At the request of the baby leave a night light or a lamp included in the room.
• Talk to the child if something disturbs him, try to calm him down.
• Parents should be persistent and consistent in their actions and requirements.
• With the child you need to talk in a calm and even voice, without an orderly tone.
• Parents themselves should set an example for children, do not stay up late, and go to bed at a certain time.

The main thing is not to be nervous and very worried. Each child has its own growth rates and developmental features. Some babies sleep quietly in their beds from the age of six months, and some learn it only in five years.

Parents can use the experience of acquaintances, other families, psychologists, or they can develop their own methods of teaching a baby to fall asleep independently in their crib.