Bedtime is killing me

[tiredandfrustrated]

My 3 yo boy was in a good routine and he suddenly started acting up at bedtime. Nothing triggered it that I can see. The routine is/was

Bath, pjs, milky drink, brush teeth, stories with mummy/daddy in bed, then kiss night night. Then we would leave him alone and come downstairs and hear him chatting away to his teddies and go to sleep.

Still do the routine but when we get to the kiss night night and leave he's crying for mummy, coming to the top of the stairs, waking his brother in the next room, shouting from the top of the stairs.

We've tried everything. Reward charts ... closing the door for a few minutes when he gets out of bed, coming up to check on him, edging away ... everything. You name it, we have tried it. He either wants downstairs with us or me in bed with him all night.

I'm exhausted and frustrated. I don't know what to do any more.

[BettyOBarley]

I haven't got advice I'm afraid but just to say I could have written your OP about my 3.7 year old DD. I wonder if it's an age thing? She also used to be a brilliant 12 hour solid sleeper but tonight we started bedtime at 7 and she has only just gone quiet after crying/coming to steps numerous times/wanting a non existant wee, a non existant poo, a drink, a teddy, another story, the door wasn't ajar enough....
She'll also be up several times in the night wanting tucking in and then from at 5.30 demanding to get up. It's exhausting.
(she's crying again as I type....)

I really don't have an answer but I hope someone does, I just keep hoping it's a phase and not the new norm

We just try and tire her out as much as we possibly can and hope she falls asleep during story time!

[tiredandfrustrated]

Betty, its driving me crackers! I just don't know what to do!

[FATEdestiny]

Have you tried leaving a lamp on in his room?

[tiredandfrustrated]

Yes, he has a nightlight

[tiredandfrustrated]

Ready for another night of fun ...... teeth cleaning in 15 min

[BettyOBarley]

How did it go?

What time does he go to bed? Do you think he's tired enough?

Saying that, DD can go to nursery for 7.5hrs and still prat about at bedtime, they have so much energy!

[Nan0second]

Is he having a nap still? Does it need to stop if so?!

[ImperialBlether]

Could you download an audio book for him to listen to?

[tiredandfrustrated]

We have resorted to a stair gate on his door again and cry it out. Although it is more whingey protest than cry and he's getting on pretty well.

[Thingywhatsit]

Do the night fairies visit your house. They look after you whilst you sleep - admittently it's my dd who has brought into it totally - when she switches on the night light she wakes up the fairies by tapping it and then they look after her til morning. Totally sorted out the issues you described.

My son made up the night police - that was interesting. They flew to our town every night and we used to see the plane on our way to school in the morning! They would knock on the door if they knew he wasn't sleeping and would take his toys if he was being naughty. They stayed for about 4 years! (He made it all up himself - was hilarious!)

Night police still get mentioned , but only to warn dd that if she is naughty for the fairies then we will have to have the night police instead! (Funnily enough she doesn't want that!)

[VioletBow]

My 3 year old is doing this too, some nights has even asked to go to bed because she is tired but then will call out for a hour or so. Come out of her room, use the potty a million times ect, I think it's an age thing tbh. I'm just persevering and not pandering to her.
Tonight was the first night in about a month she didn't call out after going to bed so fingers crossed it's almost over and back to normal.... hold tight and keep going xx