How do you get your children to sleep? Share your tips to win bedtime bundle of prizes worth £100 - Gro goodies PLUS Goodnight Everyone signed copies

[SorchaMumsnet]

From the multi award-winning picture book maker of A Bit Lost, Oh No, George! and Shh! We Have a Plan, comes a stunningly illustrated bedtime book, perfect for sending your little ones off to dreamland.

What Mumsnetters thought of Shh! We Have a Plan:

"A very clever book. My son was smiling and asked again and again for me to read it." Tabby33

"Chris Haughton's beautiful yet simple illustrations have all the family in hysterics" CANDH

In Goodnight Everyone, with Chris Haughton’s signature block colour design, we are introduced to bears, deer, rabbits and teeny, tiny mice – who are all beginning to feel really… rather… tired… YAWN!

“Dear me,” says Great Big Bear, “it must be time for bed!” But Little Bear is certainly not sleepy – he’s wide awake! For now…

With sublime starry night time scenes and an infectious repeating yawn for little readers to join in on, Chris Haughton creates a lulling bedtime read, perfect for parents and children to share together.

How do you get your children to sleep? Tell us your tips for a chance to win a bundle which will make bedtime a dreamlike experience - a Grobag, Gro-egg, Gro-clock, Gro-light PLUS a signed copy of Goodnight Everyone. Five runners-up will also receive signed copies of the book!

This discussion is sponsored by Walker Books and will end 5 September

Books T&Cs apply

[MrsRedWhite214]

We start bedtime early so there is plenty of time for my son to not feel rushed to bed. We get him changed, brush teeth and then read a book. The last thing we do before sleep is talk about the day he had had so he gets a chance to tell me about anything that is worrying him.

[CopperPan]

We tend to look forward to the bedtime routine - a long bath, change into PJs and a bedtime story of his choice. Sometimes we do a quiet activity, like colouring or board game. Blackout blinds are really useful as we're in quite an urban area, and the DDs respond well to my pillow spray which I used to use when I was pg.

[Belo]

A routine helped us when the children were younger. Doing the same things, in the same order. Now, we make sure that phones/laptops are away at least an hour before we're hoping they go to bed.

[CordeliaScott]

We have quiet time after dinner where play is slightly calmer than earlier in the day so that DD (age 2) is not hyper active. We then have bathtime, two stories whilst she drinks a bottle of warm milk, kiss her and tell her we are downstairs if she needs us. If she cries we ignore her and she generally goes straight to sleep. If she continues to be upset we go back in the room, settle her and leave her again. Repeat as necessary.

It was a nightmare to set the routine but after a week she seemed to settle into it and whilst she moans when we leave the room she usually stops before we're even at the bottom of the stairs.

[kateandme]

don't see bedtime as a faff it will AUTOMATICALLY tense you and the kids.we see it as something really enjoyable,special time. we all get washed teathed and into the pjs. depending on the time they love to sit downstairs for a bit once ready for bed.
then when its time for bed its story time.proper no feeling silly enthusiastic reading of books haha!
then snuggle them down and off to sleep.
don't let them give you stress but don't get stressed yourself,that tention especially at night can be felt three-fold. be calm its just sleep time.big hugs time.time to rest.
if they have trouble if they come down.just be firm don't be angry or cross.they don't no why they cant sleep or feel really thirsty.
often to bedtime is the time when struggles or troubles come out...its always been the time they've been able to open up in the shadows so to speak.let them speak.let them waffle about their day.they are winding down in a way.
try read the signs,catch them before they become passed the tired stage to the not moving off the couch stage and this leads to grumps.
don't panic.what works for some will not work for others and so with each child.
give them the biggest hug and kiss and make them feel loved into sleep.

[Mozarmstrong]

Lovely bath. Special book read. Little talk about the day. Big hugs and night night sleep tight xxxx

[Susangilley7]

Bath and bed and then a reading of a story. No other distractions. Don't leave it late as it can't be done in a rush.

[Mindfulofmuddle]

I have followed the same bedtime routine for both DS, and it has worked for us.
I encouraged them both to adopt a comforter from very tiny (small, easy to transport and carry ones!) which works wonders for helping them self-soothe when they wake up at night.
Quiet play/relaxing time and a drink of milk before bath time.
Reading time and cuddles after the bath.
Ewan the Sheep was a must-have for DS2 who could hear household noises after he went to bed, and Ewan helped to block those out.
A dark room and their comforter to cuddle up to

[Havingkittens04]

Bath, favourite 'sleepy time' TV programme, book, glasses off, sleep ... And when younger, a last feed before sleep x

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

Same routine every night. The DDs get their TV programme after tea, then upstairs for bath (if it's bath night), toilet, teeth and into bed for 2 stories. If DH is home we do one child each. If I'm alone I read the stories in DD2's room then we wait for her to settle before DD1 goes to bed and I have a little chat to her while she's settling down. When the girls are asleep I sort out DS.

[12sambo]

regular bedtime. sit and relax for 1hr before bed, no phones/tablets or toys. just story or tv

[dannydog1]

Routine all the time
Bath, followed by quiet time having a story read. Mine always seemed to settle better with some background noise rather than complete quiet. When older always left them reading a book.

[Givemecoffeeplease]

Routine, story time and a will of steel (me, and also them, but hopefully I can just last until they pass out). And lots of kisses and cuddles. "More mummy more!!"

[Anusia86]

We try to have same routine every day, even weekends. We start with bath, supper than short cartoon. After that we go upstairs, brush teeth, read a book and talk about all day, so she can tell me what she enjoyed the most and than we will plan something for next day. Than we cuddle, kiss and 'night night'.

[sealight123]

I find the best way is routine!
Bath, book, snuggles then bed...sorted! :)
(you definitely can't forget the snuggles too)

[Rae1000]

Gosh it used to be so easy my LO used to just love going to bed now we have every stalling tactic going. I find the best way is lots of outdoors physical activity that seems to stop the messing and definately promotes sleep!

[SurfgirlG]

A calm, gentle and cuddly routine. My 6 mth old loves bedtime stories with daddy followed by the last feed with mummy. Every night we all love this bonding ritual.

[barricade]

A calmly sung song while rocking the cot was always a full-proof way of getting babies to sleep (especially when you have a deep, hypnotic voice).

Now that they are a little older, a comforting bath, followed by a glass of warm milk and a short bedtime story does the trick.

(for both the child and the adult, I must say)

[MummyBtothree]

We keep to the same bedtime routine every evening at about the same time. My son has a nice play in the bath then comes downstairs for some supper and a story before brushing his teeth and bed. He has blackout curtains in his bedroom to keep it nice and dark & since he was 2 years old he has had a seahorse that glows and plays soft music which Is absolutely fantastic as it is a real comfort for him and helps him nod off. I've got to say, I've never had any problems with my childten going to bed or getting to sleep.

[lottietiger]

A regular routine of bath bed and book. No screen time near bed time eg TV. Definitely blackout blinds especially for summer and a choice of "cuddlies" so that there is never distress at bed time if one isn't there.

[clairebybear]

Consistency is key. Same routine, same time every night. Bath, choice of the bedtime book and read in bed.

[Zephyroux1]

A really slow winding down bedtime routine that is very predictable to the point of boring! Lots of time to chat and cuddle before snuggling down for the night

[asuwere]

Routine does work - bath, teeth, story, bed. 2 of my DC like music on to fall asleep.
Having a busy day with plenty of running about helps too! :)

[finova]

We don't do bath every night but read loads of stories eg 6/7 that's part of the wind down here.

[BellaVida]

Bedtime is s phased approach in our house.

• strict electronics/ screen time curfew.
  
• baths/showers as needed.
  
• curtains drawn & lights dimmed so everyone starts to wind down
  
• milky drinks before going upstairs
  
• toilet & teeth brushed
  
• quiet reading/ drawing time in own rooms or a story for the youngest DC
  
• lights off at different times depending on age and whether it is school night or holidays.