Getting children to go to bed - we need your tactics

Routine. It doesn't matter how ridiculous the routine (I have to recite a whole "Who loves you very much?" list, which includes the chicken and the cats). And make bed always seem like a nice place to be, and the routine enjoyable.

I just say,and have always done...go to bed !!

Just me with no routine then?

Agree with everyone else! Non negotiable routine, that includes quiet wind down time upstairs (low lights & books for us)

Don't underestimate genuine fear - nightlights can really help keep things calm.

Ours also settle each other as they share a room - ds (5) tells dd (3) stories interminable stories that would send anyone to sleep!

A bedtime CD can also be a good distraction & make sure they lie still enough to go to sleep (Tom Petty in our house )

We have a vague routine that is supposed to go bath/milk/teeth/story/bed. But ds has discovered BBC3 are repeating Dr Who and I'm so slack I let him watch it after his bath which means he's a bit later than ideally I'd like.

Things we do to encourage him along the way - racing upstairs, who can get there first. Dr Who goes off if he doesn't brush his teeth properly. Threats that there will be no story if he messes around (never actually done this, though, is an empty threat and I suspect he knows...).

Ds's top ploy once he's in bed and the lights are off is to announce he needs the loo. I can hardly say 'no'!

I never did have one preschool age. I picked them up where they fell (floor, settee, dog basket) and put them in bed .

Once at school it was 8pm which was fine although older one (8) reads for a bit.

very good strict routine really helps no matter where you are if you have a routine you can get them to bed!

Ours is.....
5.30pm Bath
6pm snack of milk and fruit or biscuits
6.30pm story time or alone reading
7pm lights out

works a treat for our 8 year old and our 3 year old starts her routine at 5pm and is lights out by 6.30pm

this works well too if we are staying at friends as we do everything is same order so DS and DD know whats coming next etc and its not a surprise!

Routine Routine

Supper/Tea
Bath
Simpsons
Read for 30
Bed
"Right Now"
"No I said NOW"

If this fails bribery can work.

Pyjamas and nappy on, upstairs, 1 book out of bed, 1 book in bed, light out, 'story out of mummys head', hug, leave. I'll go back if he cries for me, but he never gets to come back downstairs or put the light on.

DS is 2.10 and sleeps anywhere with no problem

A good book to look forward to.
Teddies and puppets as a bribe on difficult nights.
Routine! Avoid putting them to bed too late or being tempted to miss out the bath because you're knackered.

Oh yes and if they have been good, they get an extra story upstairs in our room. The longer they mess about getting teeth brushed, the shorter the story.

We get DS1(2yo) ready for bed, give him his milk and take him up to bed.

We tuck him in and read him a story. Usually the Diesel book from the Thomas series. We then put the night light that is on the baby monitor on and come downstairs.

He is normally asleep within 5 minutes.

if they get out of bed once put there then no eye contact, say back to bed firmly and carry them back
repeat repeat and repeat
once they relaise they never get to go downstairs or do anything fun like have another story, another glass of milk etc they soon get the message

It was a long time ago! But we had a routine that we followed every day, so the DC always knew what was coming, and what was coming next.

Started with bathtime, then downstairs to have milk and a story, then time for bed. Tuck them in and give them their teddy, and leave with a kiss. Non-negotiable and we never (thankfully) had any problems with either of them.

Unless I was just scary, like seeker ... !

Books books books. And a lovely bedroom that she feels safe in - a canopy tent thing over her bed, a little light, glow stars, lots of teddies etc.

A wind-down time which is the same every night (eg when she was smaller milk, same tv programmes etc) - we used to all sing along to the "goodnight song" on cbeebies, then she knows it's bed time.

Dd1 is three and a half.

I say "Ok, time for bed now" and they go to bed. I must be very scary indeed!

Dh and I give dd(4) and ds(5) piggy backs down the hall and we always have a race to see who gets to the bathroom first. It means that there is never any dragging feet about going upstairs to bed. Don't quite know what we'll do when they get too heavy!

i say the toys are lonely and want you to cuddle them to sleep. haha it worked for a while.