Getting children to sleep alone in their rooms is not always easy. Many times due to the habit they get from sleeping with their parents since they are little, they make the routine more complicated

Children have their time to do it, the key is to be persevering, says Mary Castro Psychologist at Clinica Ricardo Palma. “There are children who are more independent or mature; others still need parental supervision. We must have patience.” Other causes for which they do not want to sleep alone are fear of dark or because mothers do not want to separate from children

Keys to put children to bed

• It is not enough to ask them to go to their rooms. Children can be motivated by explaining to them that if they sleep in their rooms they will have more space

• You can arrange the room according to the child’s preferences, perform activities in the room, and even establish habits, such as reading stories

• You can leave a dim light in the room and keep the habit of putting them to bed at the same time

The consequence of still sleeping with parents

There are pathological factors that will affect children if they continue sleeping with their parents: First, this will influence their personality since the boy or girl will establish affective dependence with his/her parents and with other people. Over time this dependence will become stronger. This will also generate insecurity in children because they will feel the need to be at someone’s side in order to move forward. They will not feel a complete or individual being, and in the future they may not solve their own problems. For example, during school years they can be victims of bullying; so it is better to teach them from now on

Errors when putting children to bed

• When helping children sleeping alone you must always follow the same routine, which can include a kiss or say goodnight. Always do something that is available to us and short

• Of course, you cannot exceed the essential, such as holding them to fall asleep, go to bed with them, among others

• They should not sleep with the TV on or lifting them up to lull them or pass them to their bed at midnight

• Do not help them in things they can do by themselves like going to the bathroom alone or getting up to drink water. Address these demands with adult attention

Lic. Mary Castro
Psychologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma