Ainu....to deny my three year old this?.

[coco35]

My 3 year old d's is a nightmare at night. Firstly putting him to bed and getting him to sleep is a problem...then he wakes several times during the night....I am exhausted and this is really getting to me..

His sis who is 5 is an angel.

So they are both at school/crèche until 2pm...I have just had a delivery of their two new tablets which they will b very excited about

So I am thinking of telling ds he can hve his when he starts staying in bed.

He is absolutely adorable but a total monkey and at this stage he knows full well what he is doing. I honestly feel like it's All a game to him. I guess what I am trying to say is the baby is well gone out of him and that's why I need to change tactics with him

What do ye think?.. A stressed out mam in need of sleep!

[dashoflime]

I also don't get the problem with tablets for kids.
DS (18mths) loves playing with his Dad's Iphone and can (sort of) operate Youtube and take selfies.
He started the selfies at just a few months old when DH would show him the camera function- as you would show a baby their reflection in a mirror. He is fascinated by it.
I think a touch screen is likely to be easier to operate for kids and I hope tablets come down in price so he can have one when he's older.

[LimitedEditionLady]

I really appreciate my sons tablet for the educational apps,he is recognising letters now and other methods have really not captured his attention but those cleverly made apps are fantastic.People like to pass criticism for children having access to a tablet well ill criticise back that you cant appreciate them even slightly.Times have moved on.

[ParenthoodJourney]

What is your issue with her buying tablets for a 3 and 5 year old!?

It's her children, her decision.

Tablets are fantastic for learning my son had an innotab from 3 which was all educational and he learnt a lot through educational character games so keeps them interested whilst learning.

He also uses my iPad for reading eggs where he learnt how to confidently read 20 words in a week.

[FrenchJunebug]

seriously, buying tablets for a 3 and 5 year old?!

[Nanny0gg]

It's not good for their brains though. Fries them, even 'educational' stuff. But so does telly, and the number of apologists for that never seems to decrease.

Really?

[PicaK]

IIT must be hard having had a good sleeper to cope with a bad sleeper. Worried about your angel comment.

Kids develop at different rates - is he really playing you up? Is he that advanced socially and emotionally that he's genuinely doing this. If you are sure then what is it he is after? And how can you give him that?

I know my child couldn't have handled his behaviour for the reward - and i'd worry about the damage to his self esteem if he was constantly failing. So much in the papers these days about praising effort not results.

If it's any help my ds's sleep improved dramatically when he started school. Have you tried ensuring he's physically exhausted? Boys need more exercising than girls. (Sweeping statement I know but in my experience true.)

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Coco - not sure about the being sane bit to be honest, lol. Some nights I am really calm and some nights I get really cross and spend half an hour ranting at him (which obviously does not help him get to sleep but he does have the sense to be quiet and not say a word).

So frustrating though!

[TeacupDrama]

tablets just before bed bad idea tablet for 30 minutes at 4.30pm as reward while you prepare tea why not, there is lots of educational stuff for children , my DD is 4 and is allowed about 30 minutes per day provided good behaviour, she may get more at weekends or if we are are long car journey

[OhBuggerandArse]

It's not good for their brains though. Fries them, even 'educational' stuff.

But so does telly, and the number of apologists for that never seems to decrease.

[coco35]

Is it not very common for children to hve children's tablets like leap pads. I'm not buying them iPads!

[JupiterGentlefly]

Its definitely worth a try!

tries to get head round 3 year olds having tablets

[Nanny0gg]

I wouldn't. Too much time in between cause and effect.

Sticker chart building up to a reward (new free game for the tablet?)

Small steps.

[coco35]

Betty...omg hats off to you for still being sane with your d's!

That's all food for thought...I'm not convinced that anything will actually work in getting him to sleep but will try anything..

Funny thing is he is not the least bit tired during the day so mayb he is one of those children that doesn't need that much. His dad is like that but I am the opposite...

[TokenGirl1]

Bribery works for my 3 year old. My two get a small prize (a party bag toy) the morning after sleeping in their beds all night long. It works mostly.

[Sparklymommy]

My four children had tablets for Xmas.

They can be used to great effect to garner the behaviour that I want! They are not allowed them all the time and the threat of "you'll lose your tablet if you don't do x y or z" works wonders. My youngest is 4. She had her big sisters old one (not a new one) and the boys and dd1 had new ones that cost me approx £40 each. They are all different colours so that they are easily identifiable.

Op did not ask for comments about her present for her children, she asked if she would be unreasonable to withhold it until ds sleeps better. I think using it as an incentive may work better. Earning screen time for sleeping better.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Coco - I feel your pain I really do!! My DS is 11 and still he keeps me up. He won't to to sleep on his own so I lay with him till he drops off...and then 9 times out of 10 he wakes in the night. So, by the time I do get in my own bed I can't sleep because I am waiting for his to call.

We have tried it all, stories, nightlights, bath before bed, we got him fishes because he said they would help him relax and get off to sleep, we got him a cat to lay with him...you name it, we have done it. I am sick to the back teeth of it all and have no idea what the answer is and so just hope he will grow out of it . I tell him he is at secondary school now and still laying with mummy but as much as he wants to conquer it, he just can't.

[LimitedEditionLady]

If he calls you for silly things whatll happen if you dont go into him?he knows youre coming thats why he shouts.My ds does this sometimes going to bed but we just tell him enoughs enough after two times and he understands.

[LimitedEditionLady]

Who cares what someone else buys their kid?not the question the op was asking.Id think its a bit harsh not to give it him at all but you could use it as a persuasive tool for other behaviour.If hes not sleeping i doubt that hes going to wake up in the middle of the night and consider his tablet might not be given to him in.the day if he doesnt sleep.

[coco35]

He shares a room with dd 5yrs. Santa brought them night lights thought that might help...but alas no!!!

Am looking up gro clocks now....expensive but perhaps worth a try plus marble jar....hopefully one or both might work.

So sick of it

[Justforlaughs]

My DD got up every night and drove me mad, until we discovered that she didn't like the dark. Now we leave her light on, with a dimmer switch. I have no issue with expecting an average 3 year old to understand "if you do this, you get x", but there are certain circumstances where you need to be sure that there are no underlying causes. Sticker charts for DD didn't work, when it came to staying in bed because she was scared. Neither would a bribe of a toy she wanted have worked. What about a clock with opening eyes at a certain time? Would he stay in bed until the monkey opened it's eyes at 7 o'clock?
I really get the need for Mummy sleep btw. It's a long time since my eldest was that age - but I can remember the pain!