By Patrick J. McGrath, OC, PhD, FRSC
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| Dr. Pat |
Question:
Until recently our three-and-a-half-year-old son has had no sleeping problems. His bedtime ritual includes a bath, quiet time,
stories, and then lights out. This seemed to work quite well. However, over the past few months, he leaves his room and sleeps
on the bathroom floor — he even takes a pillow in with him. He says he's scared and lonely and that the bathroom is nice and
bright. We have given additional night lights in his room, extra comfort items on his bed, patience and reassurance. But every
night we have to pick him up from the bathroom floor, sound asleep, and put him back in his own bed. Any advice on how we
can reassure him that the best and most comfortable place to sleep is his own bed?
Dr. Pat responds:
If he is otherwise well adjusted and does not seem to be fearful of other things, I would not worry about it.
I really don't know what to suggest. He is voting with his feet. He thinks the bathroom is the best and most comfortable place
to fall asleep. You must have a cozy bathroom.
You can make the bathroom less cozy or his room more attractive. You could try dimming the lights in the bathroom or leaving
his lights on for the first part of the night. What else could make his bedroom more attractive?
| Published | Reviewed by |
| January 06, 2010 |
Ross Hetherington, PhD, CPsych
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