I seem to have found myself in a 2 hour (at least) wind down routine and wondered if anyone would like to share ideas or routines with me so I can feel a bit more enthusiastic about what I'm doing.
We tend to have tea around 6, should it be earlier if bed is at 8? I don't give her anything sweet.
Then we'll do something calm like puzzles or snap, think that's calm? We'll have a little look in the garden and perhaps do some watering if needed.
Up to a bath or strip wash around 7 then we'll have a kind of massage, more like me slapping some cream on, and into pj's. Some milk while we read and then some lullabies and lights off for 8 if we're lucky. Boy can she fidget at the moment and chit chat and ask for more mil, more water (she doesn't drink them) pee pee's too, even though she'd still in a nappy for bed.
I think she has such a wonderful little life that its just all too exciting for her sometimes and I can't get her to just chill!
Hope to hear some good advice, thanks in advance wonderful mums netters! 
Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.
Sleep
Bedtime routine ideas for 2 yr old
jollygreenmama · 16/06/2011 20:43
Think your routine sounds great too. If she is having her tea at 6 you can't really count that as part of her bedtime routine.
Would cut out the snap though as mine always get a bit excited playing competitive games. How about colouring, playdoh or glueing and sticking instead.
Then bath, books, bed is what we do too. We always leave the DC with a sippy cup with water in it anyway. Was woken loads by DS and just didn't want to give him the excuse of asking for a drink.
If you want her to settle into a routine could you do a bath each night? We also gave DD extra to eat in the bath when she was this age as it helped her to get sleepy.
There is some advice here on the Dr Sears website, although bear in mind its an American website so you can miss out the prayers if you choose 
.
The other thing we do is a lullaby by they only get this once, if they call us again we are really boring and don't do anything fun or interesting.
my rule at bedtime re requests is JUST SAY NO.
she doesn't get another drink. wee wees happen at bathtime (usually in the tub 
) so she doesn't get to go to the loo. she doesn't get another book or song or to be tucked in again (well, not very often).
if she's really wriggly/difficult i say 'shall i come back in 5 minutes when you're feeling a bit tireder and tuck you in then?' and leave, promptly. she's usually put herself to bed by the time i come back.
my inner adult-time alarm goes off at 7pm and i get very antsy if she's still up! (what can i say, i have a child who sleeps forever, must get it from me).
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.