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My 5yo won't go to bed!

5 replies

MissP71 · 06/06/2011 21:36

how can a child that up until recently would fall asleep at 7.30 now refuses to go to sleep?? She is at school and is a happy child. The problem we face is that by refusing to go to bed, it becomes a battle and she keeps her 2yo sibling awake (they share a room) we all get uptight and cross and it degenerates from there! We still have dinner, laundry, work and a million other chores that we can't start until they are both settled which is usually 9pm...and by then quite frankly I am shattered, can't have a decent conversation with oh and evening is ruined! how can I fix this!!
Apologies for the rant, but it has been like this for a few weeks now and I am at my witts end.. solutions, gratefully received if anyone has any!
many thanks
x

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geraldinetheluckygoat · 06/06/2011 21:42

Can you temporarily put the younger one in your room, and do "rapid return" or whatever it's called with the older one? So every time she's up, very boringly march her back to bed and put her in. No eyecontact or chatter, or shouting, just put back. Do it for a few nights. Then when it's sorted, move the two yo back in, but put that one to bed half hour earlier, so they can't mess about. During the extra half hour spend time doing nice reading or nice relaxing bath just with the older one?

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MissP71 · 06/06/2011 21:54

rapid return works with the 2yo - eventually, but the 5yo is just too stubborn! I will try the earlier bedtime tomorrow and see where it gets us.. thank you!

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geraldinetheluckygoat · 06/06/2011 22:09

I think the key is to be very very boring, and just keep doing it. She will tire of it before you do....eventually. Also remember seeing on that house of tiny terrors or whatever it was called, they had a family of bad sleepers, with some older kids in. The oldest was the most stubborn one. They had a pot of cheap but lovely looking prizes (sparkly pens, fancy straws, other tat that kids love!). the ones that went to bed and stayed there got a prize in the morning. The older kid didnt get a prize the first or second day but the younger ones did.....she was very cross. But went to bed the next day....maybe worth a try? Good luck, I hope you get it sorted, it is horrible when they wont sleep. I have to spit ours up sometimes as they mess about and keep each other awake and it does really drive you mad doesnt it?

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MissP71 · 07/06/2011 21:32

a-breakthrough!! I did the bath/bed routine about 45 minutes earlier than usual with the 2yo and he was asleep in bed by 6.45!!! and then the 5yo had 3 stories and was in bed chilled at 7.36 - OMG! maybe that is the trick, get one to sleep first!? let's hope the magic continues tomorrow night! thank you!!

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geraldinetheluckygoat · 10/06/2011 22:56

ah brilliant, I hope the rest of theweek continued to go well!

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