To wish my DS would go to bloody bed and stay there?

[MintyChops]

He's 5. I put him to bed at 7.30 after usual bath and story, he ate well today, rode his bike, lots of fresh air etc. It has become a habit now that he keeps reappearing, wants a drink, cornflakes, to kiss the dogs, a snuggle and brings his pillow and duvet onto the landing to sleep. Any bloody excuse. Just found him there, wide awake and chatty with my DH doing nothing to get him into bed and I'm so frigging sick of it. Ended up losing my temper with both of them. He'll be tired and ratty tomorrow and I will have him and his little brother all day and now I'm tired and ratty and 6 months pregnant. I want some time without him in the evening. How do I get him to stay in bed?

You just have to be (what will probably feel like) mean.

"Bed young man! Pronto'" And stick to it.

And no faffing on the landing or kissing dogs. You're in charge so you can tell him to stay in bed.

I am guilty of indulging my 2.10 yr old sometimes - reading extra stories, fetching colder milk - but there comes a point when I say no, no messing around - bed time NOW.

I've just been in to check on him and found him fast asleep on top of his torch. It was lit and shining out from under his bum

You put him back. You put him back. You put him back. Supernanny method.

I know, I know, I do keep putting him back, he's a persistent little bugger and I'm really fed up with it always being me that's the bad cop. My DH is much nicer/ more indulgent in the evening as he hasn't had the kids all day. Maybe I'll send him to bed as well....

Love the bum-torch image by the way Atrocious!

If your husband has more patience in the evening, then he should be the one putting him back. It's not fair for him to undermine your efforts just so that he can be the 'nice one' as he won't be suffering the consequences. He needs to back you up on this - it's not fair to you or your son.

I agree with Atrocious. Mine try this on and I get scary. "I don't want to but I'm about to get MEAN!" and give them a look. Then I say "I love you but it's bedtime and that's that...no more cuddles no drinks no ANYTHING."

Then I do a really sweet voice and say "Love you good night!" and shut the door firmly.

Right, thanks for advice. Will do stern warning and after I have said goodnight, hand over to more patient DH and see if he can also be firm and not just give in (which is actually a huge part of the problem).

My little boy is nearly 5 and we had the same problem.. I introduced a reward chart...so basically if he goes to bed every night for a week he gets a treat...A small toy or a trip to the cinema etc...
I've had to be quite tough so no treats any other time only when his reward chart is full and touch wood it's working brilliantly

we sat down and I explained what he had to do we made the chart together he get a sticker in the morning and he totally gets it

I had this with my Dd, also 5.

I had a chat with her when we were both calm at the start of bedtime to say that once I went downstairs I wasn't coming back up so she'd have to ask me for whatever she needed before I left (eg drink, story tape on, hug, kiss, correct combination of lights etc).

Seemed to work once I'd stuck with it for a few days and I would go through the list if her uusual queries before I left. still have the odd bad evening but much better