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Do
your children still sleep with you?
Encourage your children to sleep
independently.
It is natural for a child to repel
the idea of sleeping alone. The child sees his parents sleeping together
and obviously wants to be in their company. But the habit of sleeping alone
should be encouraged. Scientific studies have shown that only infants should
sleep with parents, but children above the age of two years should be encouraged
to sleep independently.
When should you
start?
Though some western cultures recommend
that children should start sleeping alone from infancy, this school of
thought is gradually changing. So one should not apply the sleep-alone
principle in the early years. Physical proximity provides a secure and
happy environment to children initially.
Build up the excitement
Start the process gradually by telling
your child that within a few days he or she will be allowed to sleep independently.
Make it sound like an exciting event. If possible, allot a room/space to
your child.
Decorate the room
Shop for decorations for the child's
room. Involve your child in the shopping so that he or she can choose some
soft toys and wall hangings. Do up the room cheerfully and make it a space
your child will love to be in. You don't have to spend a fortune doing
up the room. A little bit of imagination and innovation will go a long
way in transforming a stark room into a haven for children. Usually brightly
coloured walls, Mickey Mouse hangings and a few soft toys are the only
things needed.
Let it come naturally
Allow a child's independence to grow
naturally. Do not force it initially. If your child is not ready to sleep
alone, give him or her time to get used to the idea. If your son comes
running to your room crying in the middle of the night because he's had
a nightmare, go to his room and sleep with him. Let the children overcome
their fears and phobias on their own.
Self-reliance
Even as a child sleeps alone, he
or she starts relying on oneself. The dependence on parents for small things
in life should be discouraged. In fact, sleeping alone is just a step in
that direction.
Exceptions
With the increasing number of child
abuse cases, you should be very careful about the guests and friends who
happen to share the room with your child when visiting. Never trust anyone
too much. Ask your child if he or she has anything to fear from any relative/friend/neighbour.
Do whatever feels
right at the right moment
Every child is an individual person
with an individual identity. What may be right for one child, may not be
right for the other. So just because your neighbour's son has been sleeping
in his own bedroom from the time he was two years of age, doesn't mean
you have to follow suit. Feel free to let your child hang on for another
year if you feel the child is not ready.
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