Let’s be honest—having your baby peacefully sleeping next to you is the best feeling ever! After a long day of pushing limits, figuring out feedings, naps, and soothing techniques, they’re finally asleep. There’s just something so comforting about having your baby or toddler right beside you... until it’s not! Until they start kicking, tossing, turning, or until you’re no longer getting a good night’s sleep because you’re worried they might fall off the bed.
Not all families love co-sleeping, and that’s totally okay! I want to mention that there’s nothing wrong with co-sleeping when done safely. But I’m one of those moms who doesn’t enjoy it. I tried it when my now 7-year-old daughter was 2. I reached a point where I was willing to try anything to help everyone in the house sleep better, so we gave co-sleeping a shot. But it didn’t take long for me to realize it wasn’t going to work for us.
That being said, I still love the peaceful feeling of having my child close sometimes. Now that my daughter is 7, we do the occasional “sleepover,” and we both love it—but it’s for special occasions only. My 3-year-old also naps in my bed with me sometimes, but we’ve established boundaries. He knows it’s just for naps, and I know these nap days are coming to an end soon (we’re down to naps every other day), so I’m cherishing every minute of it.
If you’re ready to reclaim your bed, here are a few gradual tips to help you get started:
Start sleep training while your baby/toddler is still in your bed. This means teaching them about independent sleep so they don’t need you as much.
Move their crib or toddler bed into your room. Place it close to your bed at first, and then gradually move it farther away every couple of days.
Transition to their own room, but stay with them for a few nights. You can sleep on a mattress on the floor in their room for comfort and then gradually leave them to sleep there on their own.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this transition. How and when you move forward depends on how you feel and how your baby responds, but these are great starting points to try.
Remember, if you want your little one to sleep in their own room but they’ve never spent a night there, you need to work on helping them recognize the space. Spend some awake time in their room, play, and create positive associations with it.
If you need help creating a plan and staying accountable, let’s chat! My job is to listen to what you want and help you achieve that goal in a way that feels doable for you.
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