Party animal at bedtime!

[mambo29]

My 3.2 yr old has in the last month decided after always going to sleep pretty much straight away at bedtime (between 7 and 8 depending on how tired), that he no longer is sleepy and initially was just chatting to himself or singing for about 2 hours. We have been feeling sorry for him because he must be so bored, I know how I feel when I can't sleep. Unfortunately he is now crying and getting up and thinking up every excuse in the book to get us up there. He doesn't have daytime naps and seems quite sleep deprived (blooming grumpy all the time!) We are having to get cross which I hate doing at bedtime i don't want him falling asleep after a telling off. Am i going to have to do the whole 'sleep plan' thing again???? Leave him to cry himself to sleep? Thought it was the weather but is much cooler here at the minute................anybody????

[Bamzooki]

Poor you - must be very frustrating. Have you tried all the usual things like - keeping the bedtime routine the same, avoid too much excitement after tea, warm bath (with lavender?), nice soporific story etc?
If you have you could lokk over his diet - is there anything he is eating that might be causing it? You might want to cut out his espresso after tea! (joke....)
Other than that I'm not sure what to suggest apart from hope like hell it is a 'phase'!!!!!

[mambo29]

Aaah now heres a thing, you've made me think, strangely enough about the same time as this problem started another seemed to sort itself. He has always been a terrible eater and as if by magic turned into this food critic and was sampling anything and everything, he appetite is fab now. Don't know how/if this could be related, going to spend a wild hour going over meals for the last month!!! Sigh life is soooooo exciting!!! Might try the lavender at bath time......cheers