Bedtime - Akron,IN

I have 4 children from 9 to 27 and 2 grandchildren ages 1 and 5. What you are going thru is perfectly normal. He does not like going to sleep by himself because he is most likely scared to be in the room by himself and wants to be near you when he is sleeping. My suggestion is that you tell him he is not allowed to sleep in his own bed anymore."REVERSE PHYSCOLOGY" Give him his blanket and pillow put him on the floor or on the couch in your living room. Tell him it is Quiet time,let him fall asleep watching TV or just being quiet and leave him there for the night. If he wakes up mom, either let him sleep with you or sleep in the same room with him. He will out grow this, lol and sry to say in about 2 to 4 years. Good Luck
And most might think this is a horrible suggestion, put a TV in his room and let him fall asleep with it on, leave it on. This drowns out the noises from the rest of the house and keeps his little mind from worrying about falling asleep or having bad dreams. Again Good Luck, S.

Trisha said what I was going to say. It works!

Set up a chair outside his bedroom, and sit down to read. That way as SOON as he gets out of bed, you will hear and be able to respond. Just keep putting him back in bed. If he knows he won't get his way, he'll eventually respond. Part of what is driving him may be a desire for attention or a sense of missing out on the "fun" everyone else is having, so spend a little time with him before leaving him in his bed and be sure that whatever is happening in the rest of the home is boring. No TV, just people reading books or sitting quietly, nothing to stay awake for.

I wish I could offer more, but sadly you've just got to wait for it to pass. It always does!

talk to your dr. about this or you could try putting him to bed a little later and getting him up early

I am in the trenches with you. My 5 year old is getting better. We are down to her getting up on bad weather nights. I started the taking her back to bed...I did it until I was so physically exhausted that I just could not go any more. Routines help. Consistancy helps. Eventually they mature a little more and it becomes less of a problem. Hopefully it will help you to know that us other moms are experiencing this too. Good luck. I will pray that you are able to stay strong.

A little about me: I am a happily married SAHM of 4. Girls ages 5 1/2, 4, 3mo. Boy 23mo.

I have a 11 year old son now and when he was around your sons age he did the same thing.have you tried putting up a babygate in his doorway a couple inchs of the ground so he can't crawl over it,and make sure theirs no night lights on.lights may keep him awake and if their off it also may cause him to be a little afraid to get up and wander.if you don't like these ideas or have allready tried them.maybe read him a book untill he falls asleep or put a t.v in his room put him in bed a half hour early and allow him to watch his fav show.when he falls asleep sneak in or use a romote from right out the door and shut it off.i know some people think going to sleep with the t.v. could possibly be a bad habit.but some of these same peoples use pills to sleep.my son can not go to sleep without the t.v as well me to,but it doesn't cause him to stay up any later and he gets up in the morning and he's a straight A student.You may also want to do a physical activity before bed. workout routine, jumping jacks, running in place,etc in good weather a walk or bike ride around the block.not only will it tire him out,but it's also good for him.i hope you find the answer your looking for good luck.

I have gone through the same thing (with 3 older kids) and know I will soon with my 2 year old. I would try to put your 4 year old to bed before your 8 year old. My kids used to go to bed at 8. Now they get to go to bed at 9. My daughter who is 7 still has a hard time falling asleep. We just put a radio in her room on low for her to fall asleep with. There are lots of cd's with soft music or consider buying one those alarm clocks with nature sounds. Many nights my husband and I have fallen asleep with ours on. Stick to your guns, when he comes down tell him he has to go back to bed. Even if you have to take him back up. After about of week of you being consistent he will realize mommy isn't going to let him stay up. I really hope this helps. I have been there and it is really hard but hang in there.

First of all, cudos to you for handling this all on your own. I am sure you are doing a great job. My advice from having a 3 and a half year old and a 2 year old: have a consistent routine that you follow every night. If possible, involve your 8 yr. old. Maybe read a story together every night, do the same things: brush teeth, bathroom, whatever, in the same order. We have a rule that we get ready for bed in the bedroom and once we enter the bedroom, we don't leave except for the last bathroom use. (Maybe even have your eight year old get ready for bed at the same time, even if he or she isn't actually going to bed at that time. Your 4 yr old may feel like he is missing out on something.) I have a child proof door proctector on the inside of their door so they can't come out and then I open the door after they go to sleep if they need anything. My daughter would come to the door and call out for me at first. I would go tuck her in one time and then she had to get in bed herself if she got out. I would be by the door and reassure her I was there and tell her to get back in bed and that I had already tucked her in one time. Now, they go to bed fine most nights I think, because of consistant rountine. They know what to expect and that is a comfort to them. Hope that helps.

I saw an epsode of Supernanny and a single dad was going through the same thing. She told him to stay outside his room, and when he gets out of bed put him back in. The first time tell him it's bedtime and he needs to stay in bed and then everytime after don't say anything just put him back to be. The first night it took him like 2 hours but then the second it was only 45 min and kept getting better from there. Sorry that this is my only advice. Good luck, and remember, they aren't this age forever, Thank God!! LOL!!