My son is 3 1/2 years old and I can not get him to sleep at night.. Not only does it take hours but he also wakes up at least once a night. Usually he wakes up crying and I let him fall back asleep but many nights he gets up and crawls into bed with his grandpa or grandpa will go to him. I know that my father is the main problem. I separated from my husband a year ago and due to being left with all the debt had to move in with my father. My father is a HUGE help in more ways than not but when it comes to sleeping he always allows my son to crawl into his bed. My son has him wrapped around his finger and gets whatever he wants! Now my son cries for him to put him to bed because he knows he will get more stories and chatting and that my dad will fall for the "I have to potty" or "i'm scared" ploy to get out of bed.
I am so frustrated and do not know what to do. I read my son two books, tuk him in, lay with him a bit.. I leave his door open for light as he freaks out in the dark and i'm only a room away but as soon as I leave him he cries "I'm scared, I want you, I want my papa!" I always stay firm but he sneaks out of his room to run into grandpas, keeps getting up, cries loud or continues to call out for attention. I can ignore the crying but after two hours of putting him back in his bed I get so frustrated that I'm upset with him. I don't like for him to go to bed every night with me upset. I hate being the bad guy but am the only one who disciplines him. I notice that he wants me less because of this and it is hard on me.
Any suggestions that might calm my sons fears or get him to sleep without me having to get upset with him? I've tried talking to my father and he attempts at times to follow my rules of no sleeping in his bed and no junk food but more often than not he still goes against me. He has suggested buying my son a dog so that he feels more secure but I think that his insecurity or fear of the dark is not the real problem.
Please help!
I am so frustrated and do not know what to do. I read my son two books, tuk him in, lay with him a bit.. I leave his door open for light as he freaks out in the dark and i'm only a room away but as soon as I leave him he cries "I'm scared, I want you, I want my papa!" I always stay firm but he sneaks out of his room to run into grandpas, keeps getting up, cries loud or continues to call out for attention. I can ignore the crying but after two hours of putting him back in his bed I get so frustrated that I'm upset with him. I don't like for him to go to bed every night with me upset. I hate being the bad guy but am the only one who disciplines him. I notice that he wants me less because of this and it is hard on me.
Any suggestions that might calm my sons fears or get him to sleep without me having to get upset with him? I've tried talking to my father and he attempts at times to follow my rules of no sleeping in his bed and no junk food but more often than not he still goes against me. He has suggested buying my son a dog so that he feels more secure but I think that his insecurity or fear of the dark is not the real problem.
Please help!