How can my parents get my toddler to sleep?

[wildpoppy]

So in preparation for number two due in a few months, my parents tried to put dd, 21 months, to bed at their house while I went out for the evening, as they'll be the ones to take her when I'm in labour. I got back at 10.30 to find her happily, but exhaustedly, playing in the living room, having screamed and screamed when they tried to do bedtime.

Apparently she let them do her medicine (she has this nightly) and teeth and pyjamas but refused her milk and wouldn't lie down and was screaming so much they thought she'd throw up.

We've stayed here before, though we've always done bedtime, and she's very close to GPs and sees them at least twice a week, so don't think that is problem.

I think she was pushing it to see how far she could go and they allowed it because they hate seeing her upset.

I was, needless to say, a but grrr that she was up as my instructions had been once upstairs not to bring her down even if she wouldn't sleep, so she'd realise it was bedtime, and that they could do books and a bit of playing upstairs but once up it's up until morning.

On the other hand I appreciate it is near impossible to deal with a hysterical toddler who is not yours and that also they needed to be able to come downstairs and have dinner and an evening.

I had explained what was happening by the way to her and I think she understood as much as any toddler can. Dh is away on business trip this week but only left today so she shouldn't be missing him yet.

Any advice - really want not to be stressing about whether dd ok and getting sleep while in hospital giving birth to next one.

[mumtocuddlebundle]

We just had ds2. And I worried about how parents would settle ds1.but I decided to not Do a trial run, in case it was a disaster and I just worried more. So I thought my parents will just have to cope when time comes. As it happens, I did ds1 bedtime, then went into labour at 9 pm, parents came to house at 2am as we went to hospital and we were back home the following day with ds2 at 6pm. So parents never had to do bedtime.
But I had told them if it doesn't work. Take him down to watch tv till he falls asleep- even if it's not til midnight he will eventually. Or take him for walk in buggy then carry him up to bed. It's only a one off so doesn't matter. That was my plan anyway.

[ThisIsYourSong]

You might need to try a few more times, the first time my DTs went in the sleep room at nursery they were the same but it didn't take long for them to settle down. Is it possible for your parents to go to your place and look after her there?

Would she settle with music or a DVD?

[wildpoppy]

Thank you. Any other tips?