Bedtime Problems

well N., here is what we did.
we got a gate which we put right outside the girls door (they're almost 2 and a half), we put them in their bed, we kiss them, they each get a stuffed animal and we say
ok talk to each other but stay in bed.
they go off to bed between 7:30 and 8, sometimes they talk until after 9 but they don't cry or attempt to go out of the room and eventually they fall asleep.
the thing that worked for us is we stopped going in their rooms to tell them to stop talking, and we stopped going in their rooms if there was whinning. so now they know it's bedtime and mommy daddy are sleeping. so they talk some, maybe sing, but they do not go out. it will take a few nights hope it works
V.
ps. we also have a nightlight on in their room, because one of the girls is afraid of the dark.

i totally understand what you are going thru.i have that same problem my daughter is 2 1/2 and my son is 15 months and getting them to sleep is like a nightmare. i have found wearing them out during the day helps alot. also establishing a routine and keeping to it will supposedly help too...thats what i am trying with mine right now. i can't take them out to get rid of energy since i am 8 1/2 months pregnant. i wish you luck... if you wanna talk feel free to email me

____@____.com

It sounds like your 2 and 3 year olds share a room? My 2 & 4 year old share also and have the same problem at bedtime. What we do most nights is put the 4 year old in our bed and 2 year old in his bed so they cannot play and distract each other. They both go to sleep just fine now and we move my 4 year old when it's time for us to go to bed. Also, do your kids nap? That could be a factor too, whether they slept too much during the day or maybe our overtired, there are several factors that could be considered... I've found if I let my 2 year old sleep as long as he wants for his nap then he doesn't go to bed early enough for me... so I limit how long he sleeps during the day.

Hi N.,
Getting the kids to bed can be somewhat of an art form! Some people really have it down pat. For most of us though it takes alot of effort! I have 3 children and I find that it's easier to get the others to bed once the baby is down. Do you have another bedroom for the baby? I think that could be difficult if you don't. I think you need a bedtime routine. Starting early...take a bath, one dessert...no chocolate, candy... etc. something like vanilla ice cream (no one needs hyper children at bedtime) maybe a very passive movie (Baby Einstein makes some relaxing ones if you don't fall asleep yourself) While the movie is playing get the baby to sleep. Hopefully dad can watch children while you do this. Let the baby cry a little if needed or rythmically pat the baby softly. (Sometimes this lulls mine to sleep). Then after movie brush teeth, etc. then story time in bed. Sorry so wordy! Stick to the same routine every night and they will come to know what to expect. No one is allowed out of bed at story time unless they need to go to the bathroom. Establish rules and be firm. You can work up to a bed time that will be reasonable for you all. You deserve some rest!
Good luck
p.s. I hope something works for you. It took me long to figure out what works for us.

Hi N.:
Try the sleep fairy... she worked for me... everytime they go to sleep on time with out giving me trouble the sleepfairy leaves them a note telling them how proud she is. She also leaves them either candy or a toy (usully from the dollar store since she would be broke by now!!! =-)
She also leave them stuff they need such as new sneakers for school, backack (i.e. stuff you would buy anyways!)
what I want to know is how you got the little one to sleep alone. we actually have 3 kids nd the oldest just needs to pray and a story and I can walk out ... she is good cause she wants a gift fron S.f. but the second needs to fall asleep in my arms (she is 1.5) which winds up being really difficult when my hubby is out of town since I also have a 2 monht old.
My 1.5 does stay in bed if she wakes up... she just calls me and I give her her pacifier and go away. she does not fall asleep alone though!

Hope S. f. Helps.
G.

Wear them out during the day! It helps.
Also, letting them stay up late a few nights and waking them up early the next days will wear them out too, and they might fall asleep faster. But sometimes this backfires and they are over tired and won't sleep more! Good Luck!

N. - I have had this same problem, and the only thing that helped my kids was a pretty strict set bedtime and a routine. It REALLY helps to start getting them ready for bedtime about a half hour Before bedtime. Gives them time to adjust, I think. Also what time do they go to bed? Sometimes they need a little more rest, so they don't get overtired and beyond themselves.

I used a tape recorder for my kids to listen to a story on tape at different phases. My son used to like Aladin and Toy Story. They like repetion at that age so you could play the same tape/CD every night for awhile.

When my girls where that age I used to call it the ping pong effect. They would get each other going and I had trouble getting them down. Keep working at the routine. Maybe you could monitor how much sleep they need and not let them get too long a nap during the day or get them up a little earlier so they'll be tired enough at their bedtime but not overtired. Teaching a child to be able to go to sleep on their own is a wonderful gift to give a child. At one point I used to sit in their room in a chair to make sure they wouldn't get each other going.

good luck,
LaurieK
www.mymonavie.com/LaurieK