Hate the hour before bedtime

[Dinosaurgalore]

My d's 3 becomes a total nightmare, hyper and manic, throwing things jumping on the sofa, hitting. Not sure what to do he is tired but not enough for bed. Screens are banned to try and calm him.

Any tips on how to manage nightmare hour

[GhostCurry]

Oh lord, I hear you.
Can your keep him in his room for that hour, with some calming music and reading books?
There are some guided meditations for kids, I've not used them but could be worth a look?

[Sittinginthesun]

I remember that well. Early long bath works well. Mine used to think supper in pyjamas was a treat.

Or quick walk after tea?

[Ginfernal]

Mine is 5. We try and have bath time, family game of something that needs concentration then up to bed for a story then a guided meditation on YouTube. Oh and tidy up time before bath

[Happydoingitjusttheonce]

Was too long ago for me to remember and offer practical advice however the thing to remember and cling to is that the daily nightmare hour doesn't last for long. Routine will change all the time and get easier in some ways, trickier in others. My lad is 14 and I wished I'd remembered that when he was little and I was stressed. Remember also there is post bed time wine

[Dinosaurgalore]

Have tried the long bath and he will happily play in the bath but as soon as out goes manic again, only time he's like it. Once he's upstairs for bed he's fine will listen to story nicely and then settle to sleep no problem it's the time before that that's the problem

[early30smum]

Have you tried later bath and not allowed downstairs after bath? I.e. Straight from bath into bedroom for quiet stories etc? My nearly 5 year old gets a proper second wind and ends up going hyper and overtired if we let him downstairs after bath.

[NicolasFlamel]

I really hate bedtime and the lead up to it. Whatever time we start the process they just go absolutely feral in the hour before. No advice, just solidarity! It's like wrestling a drunk into bed. They think they're completely hilarious but it's just annoying.

[Grooves]

Bath and then chill. You have to impliment it and stick to it.

I kept a solid routine with my daughter from being a little baby, it was dinner, bath and then bed.

We add a book to the routine and she knows after the book, it's bedtime.

[Rinkydinkypink]

Yes yes. It's the time after tea and before bath in my house that's the manic hour.

I generally allow it, kick them outside, go for a walk, do a mass tidy up. On those really uncontrollable days it's early long bath. Stories but only if they sit and listen then bed.

It's not always successful but letting them downstairs after their bath always results in major meltdown. It's just not done!

[Hmmalittlefishy]

I hate it. All this 'calm bedtime moments' I'd love bollocks in our house. Ds2 is especially wild running around, not doing as he's told, shouting , getting out of bed and general completely silly. It's just me on my own which doesn't help and I hate being shouty mum at bedtime

[Hmmalittlefishy]

Oops 'is bollocks' not I'd love bollocks.
Unfortunate autocorrect

[AnneGrommit]

Can't you just put him to bed earlier?

[BlackberryLassi]

Ahh sympathies! It's shit. No screens, a long bath (although dd went crazy because her hands got white and wrinkled and set bedtime back another 30mins) and some books. Nothing like a bedtime tantrum!!

[letmepeeinpeace]

Hmmalittlefishy that made me cry!!!

[Dinosaurgalore]

He goes to bed at 6.15 any earlier isn't practical and he wouldn't sleep.

Will try long bath before bed and then up to room.

Drives you to the brink then all snuggley for bedtime stories and cute again

[Violetcharlotte]

The witching hour!! I remember this well. I think I got though it by thinking of the large glass of wine I was going to pour myself as soon as they were in bed!

Letting them wind down and watch TV is probably the best option.

[Dinosaurgalore]

The tv seems to make him worse so we stopped that although to be honest no difference really except I don't suffer topsy and frigging tim

[Dinosaurgalore]

That should say we thought the tv made him worse

[Violetcharlotte]

Oh I see It's been a long time since mine were that age so I don't really know what kids programmes are on now. Isn't CBeebies bedtime hour meant to be calming?

[mctat]

Can you go straight from dinner to long bath to bed & books? Esp if he's going at 6.15?

[Dinosaurgalore]

The night time hour starts around 6 I think but he goes to bed at 6.15 so topsy and Tim on at 5.20 which ds loves

[Dinosaurgalore]

He's fast asleep now for the night just that hour before he goes up

[user1473602935]

Definitely don't bring down between bath and bed (we used to make the same mistake)

Ideally some quiet activities like jigsaw puzzles although appreciate he might not be interested!