Tips on getting boyfriend's kids to sleep in their own rooms?
I just moved in with my boyfriend a few weeks ago. He has a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old girl and he’s been divorced for about a year and a half. His kids spend the night with him on Friday nights and they like to sleep in his bed with him, and I usually sleep on the couch or in his daughter’s room. This honestly doesn’t bother me because it’s just one night a week, and I know that they like it and it’s the only night they get to spend with him. But at the same time, I wouldn’t exactly complain if I got to sleep in the same bed as my boyfriend, and he wants me to start sleeping in there. This weekend, we are going to try to get the kids to sleep in their own rooms. Problem is, they REALLY like to sleep in his bed with him and their rooms are on a different floor (upstairs), while our room is on the first floor…so it’s in a part of the house that is far from our room. They both have some separation anxiety, especially his daughter. We were thinking we might try to have them sleep in the livingroom and set up a makeshift "tent" of sheets so that they’ll be excited to sleep somewhere else. I also think they might be excited about sleeping in their rooms if they had some new bedding that they like (e.g., Star Wars or Disney princess stuff), but that costs money that we don’t have right now. Any other ideas? Thanks for any advice!
Tagged with: bedding • costs money • couch • disney • disney princess • friday nights • g star • livingroom • old girl • quot • separation anxiety • sleep • star wars • tent • upstairs
Filed under: Star Wars Collectibles
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You are going to be "treading on eggs" no matter how you play this one. At the ages of 6 and 4 they are missing having their Dad around full time so are trying to cram in as much attention as possible whilst they have him.
Try spending the night on the sofa whilst the kids are sleeping (it is only one night a week) but join them all in bed for breakfast and pre-getting up TV time. As they grow older they will accept that their Dad will still be around when they wake up and that you are a part of his life, so will use their own beds of their own volition. Good luck.
My tip to you is to stop being a home wrecker and a pig, and to leave your fellow pig, to get out of the trough and close your legs.
If you go to line dancing night at your hillbilly bar while wearing your cowgirl boots and stomping your feet, at least it would be a better alternative. Please be careful your rolled up pack of cigarettes in your sleeve don’t fall all over the floor.
Joe- How is she a home-wrecker? Her boyfriend was divorced…
Wow Joe gave you one hell of an answer.
Um . . my best advice would be to be consistent. When my son first went from cot to his own bed the first night I must have spent 2 hours putting him back into his bed. then the next night it was a little less till eventually he just went straight into his bed. Took around a week over all. The issue you have is they are only there once a week, so it could possibly take a whole lot longer.
But like I said DON’T GIVE IN! or all your hard work will be wasted and you’ll end up back at square one.
If they come out of there bed just tell them it’s bed time and put them straight back. When they come out the second time you say bed time and put them straight back. When they come out the third time you say nothing and put them straight back to bed and continue to do so, saying nothing until they stay put. All I have to say is good luck. It broke my heart hearing my son crying for me.
I find it amazing how people assume she has decided she doesn’t want the children in the bed when she clearly say’s "WE" as in her and her boyfriend came to the decision together.
My advise is that you follow the cues that the Dad sends you. It’s not your place to kick the kids out of the bed. No offence but if you don’t like it, go find another place to live. Sorry to be blunt but that aren’t your kids and if he enjoys sleeping with them during his visits, then that is what should happen! Esecially if the kids have seperation anxiety! Having two different homes isn’t easy for kids and a new person who lives with daddy who wants to change things, i’m sure isn’t helping!! You just moved in for goodness sake!
At their ages they should be in their own beds. It will take some time to get the children to sleep in their own beds if they only spend one night there. Try putting them to bed about half an hour or even an hour earlier than they normally go (children DO need a set bed time). Put them in their beds and read or tell them a story. Explain to them that they will be staying in their beds and make it clear that is what they will be doing. When it is lights out time the true challenge begins. Expect tears and maybe tantrums. Be sure to minimize talking to them. Escort them back to bed and re-tuck them in without speaking. A kiss is OK. Eventually they will understand that they are to stay in their own beds. This is why I suggested putting them to bed earlier. Another suggestion is to put the kids to bed at different times. Maybe put the younger child to bed 15 minuets earlier than the older child. Also, NO TV for about an hour before bed. TV gets kids brains too active to sleep. Turn lights down low and keep it quiet. The next challenge is getting them to stay in bed should they wake in the night. Simply escort them immediately back to their beds, without talking to them, and leave. Good luck and keep in mind it takes time, more time in your case since they only spend one night there.
You rfirst mistake is moving in too soon. You should not even be there during his visitation. The kids come before your love life. That is why they are doing that. Experts say single parents should not involve their kids in their love lives until they have been with someone seriosuly for 2 years.
You get them to stop that? You watch. They will start hatign you and act out. Youget to see thei dad every day 24/7. They get one night a week. WITH THEIR DADDY. And you are already trying to dictate and interfere? Yikes. Harsh.