How do I get her to sleep in her bed rather than the couch?
If your little one is falling asleep on the couch instead of in her crib or bed, what probably happened is that she now associates some aspect of the couch or common room with becoming sleepy and falling asleep. To help her learn to fall asleep in her crib or on her bed, first pay attention to when she falls asleep on the couch. Begin to intervene and begin a bedtime routine a bit earlier than she typically falls asleep. When you start to notice your little one is getting sleepy, start her bedtime routine and move her toward her bedroom. If safe and possible, you may want to move a couch pillow or small cushion into her room and bed so she can fall asleep with something she is used to sleeping on. Then, start having her practice falling asleep at bedtime with her own pillows so she can begin to fall asleep on her own in her bedroom, without needing to first fall asleep on the couch.
About Dr. Michael Gradisar
