4 year old wont stay in bed!!

[g3orgia]

My little girl is 4 and she used to go to bed, watch a film and go to sleep.
Now she goes to bed with a film on, but will get out of bed at least 5 times before going to sleep.
She goes to bed at 7. Shes gets out of bed for 'a wee' or 'a poo' or just to ask a pointless question.
Iv run out of ideas!!!!

[FATEdestiny]

Well, I wouldn't have the TV on at bedtime. That is a distraction to keep her awake. So maybe stop the film/TV and make bedtime quiet, calm and boring. Make sure she stays in bed by immediately returning her to bed when she gets up. It will take some work but will work with perseverance.

[g3orgia]

Do you think 7 is too early for her to go to bed maybe? Im not sure if she needs to go to bed an hour later, but 8pm seems a bit late to me.
I have thought about taking the film away but I feel like she will just replace that with something else. I have just read that the film shouldnt be on as is a distraction! Every night before bed I say to her go for a wee and a poo, but it seems she coincidentally always needs a poo half an hour into her bedtime. I feel I cant say no to it incase its genuine!

[morethanpotatoprints]

if you remove the tv from her room and have a night time with lights out and get her into a routine she will be fine.
if she gets up just put her back to bed, don't make a fuss or give her attention, just straight to bed.
Read to her before she goes to bed and settle her down after teeth brushed.

[paxtecum]

A story cd might work instead of a film.

[Littlefish]

Does she have a wee and a poo before she gets into bed?

If she says she wants a wee or poo after you've kissed her good night, do you then stay with her while she does it?

What would happen if you said "ok, that's fine, go for a week/poo but I am going downstairs. Goodnight".

I also agree that she shouldn't be watching TV before going to sleep. Read her a story or let her listen to a story tape instead.

[Iggly]

TV before bed sounds awful, sorry!

Take the film away. Get her to sit on the toilet before bedtime. She's probably lonely. My two like us to have a little chat with them before they go to sleep. Works well, stops additional requests.

[Pedestriana]

My 4 year old goes to bed at 8pm. She's quite an energetic bundle and is up at 7.15/7.30 without fail every morning.
We have a semi-routine in the evenings. She can watch the bedtime story on TV if she's eaten all her dinner and put all her toys away. Then she has to go and get her pajamas on. This can take a while as she fiddles about in her room. She comes back downstairs and has a drink of warm milk and a cuddle, sitting still for 5 minutes.
7.45 she goes upstairs, cleans her teeth, gives her hands and face a wash, goes to the toilet. Teeth etc. are checked for cleanliness.
Then into bed where she's read a story. After this, it's lights out, and a little cuddle for 10-15 minutes. If she's still awake after that then she's allowed to play quietly with her toys as long as she stays in bed.
If she's not asleep, that's up to her. It's not worth making a big fuss over as I have dinner to prepare and other things to do. I realised a while ago there was no point getting frustrated because she wasn't tired.

[g3orgia]

Shes always been in a good routine, she just at the minute seems to need more attention that usual. We usually have dinner, get pjs on and then she reads me her book while we snuggle on the sofa for about 20 mins. Then she goes up to brush her teeth and have a wee etc. Sometimes she has a poo then, and if so she still gets out of bed within the half an hour to have another. She never poos during the day really, just at night times. Maybe Im getting too wound up with it all, if shes not tired then whats the harm in her staying up a little in her room? Aslong as she is safe and we get just a little peace and quiet then do you all think this is fine? Maybe I can keep the bedtime routine as it is, but instead of film and goodnight at 7 I can let her have stories or something to look at in bed for half an hour - an hour. Then after that I can go in and lights out and say goodnight. I think this will work alot better, and also she may then be tired enough to go straight to sleep.
Finally looking forward to trying something that may not stress me out haha!
Thank you all :)

[Pedestriana]

Yes, ditch the TV or at least limit it to before bed.
As you say, as long as she is safe then let her get on with winding down.

I put DD to bed half an hour ago and she's still playing with her toys - I can hear her doing all the voices.