Is it going to be like this for the next month????

[sparklingchampagne]

We have a small two bedroom house, and when DSD stays with us she shares a room with DD who is 5 (DSD is 8)
DD is very bad at settling at night - is up and down like a yoyo, DSD usually goes to bed in our bed and we move her when we go to bed.

Tonight DD has been even worse than usual, up and down for almost three hours, running out of her room, into our room to wake up DSD, shouting, screaming etc etc.
DH tries to be patient but will lose it in the end and ends up yelling at her, I am trying hard to settle her by talking quietly but TBH she is really trying my patience too!

What can we do - DSD is with us for a month now, and I really can't face 30 night of chasing DD around, with DH sitting seething all evening, he then ends up ratty with me, and the next day DD is awful as she is knackered!

Feel sick at the thought - help!

Wow. Up and down for three hours? I am not in a position to advise you as I have younger dc but that does sound "unasseptable", as Supernanny would say.

I suspect she would also say that your dd is controlling the situation and you need to regain the upper hand, etc etc. I don't know how I even know this as I have only watched the programme about three times ... and it may be utterly useless advice, people on MN seem not to think much of her.

Sorry to be no help whatsoever! I sympathise though, & hope I won't be fighting sleep battles like that with DS when he gets to 5 as I'd certainly handle it really badly.

Thanks, coming up for four hours now
We have tried so many things, sticker charts, rewards, sanctions, going in every five minutes, leaving her to shout and scream etc etc.
I wouldn't mind if she stayed in her room but she's out of bed all the time.
Eeeek!

Gah. I'm surprised you haven't had more of a response -- there must be seasoned experts around here somewhere ...

Hope you've got strong tea and biscuits to fortify you ... or wine

We're having similar problems with my ds at the moment, but luckily he's only 2 so can put a stairgate on to at least control the situation.

Have you tried taking things away from her? With ds, if he keeps getting out of bed I give him a warning....eg.if you get out once more I will take away your train, fave tv.programme etc. and follow it through the next day. It does seem to work...at least for a few nights!! I'm afraid I dont have any experience with older children though, so may be totally useless advice

Hello again
Roo, we've tried everything, taking away privileges (eg TV programme, going to the park) but nothing works - it's as though she's a different child as soon as she gets into the bedroom.
We have taken them on a 3 mile walk today - so fingers crossed she'll be worn out tonight - I hope so as I am whacked!

No talking, no fighting, nothing, just tell her 1st time it is time to go to bed. and carry her (if needed) back in bed. following times don't say anything just keep putting her back to bed, as many times as necessary as soon as she is up. she will get bored
make sure you have done the whole routine 1st. if you know she has peed, drank, had her story and brushed her teeth, had her cuddle kiss and teddy, she doesn't need anything else.
What time are you putting her too bed? it might be too late or too early. Do you allow some reading time in bed and then switch off the light?

She is too old to do that. Is she jalous of DSD? Have you try to talk to her about her feelings?

Hello
She has her routine, we make sure she's been for a wee, got her drink, everything.
We've spent weeks taking her back to bed without looking/speaking, we've talked to her about it plenty of times.
She's not jealous of DSD, just likes spending time with her!
She has twenty minutes reading time and lights out, we have a blackout blind, we've moved her bedtime later and earlier - nothing!

I'm surprised she can sustain that for a whole month... and would certainly go down the excercise and fresh air route during the day so that she's bound to be ready for bed - but don't put her down too early...

I go away with Brownies at that age and they do have a remarkable amount of stamina for the first night (!) but then crash the next... it's been a while since my own was that young, I'm afraid.. but would echo Mamaloco's advice otherwise..

Oh god, you poor thing. We're having a bit of this with DS (5) but not so bad. Our ultimate sanction is shutting the door which scares the living daylights out of him - that way he has the choice - stay in bed with door open and a light on outside, or get up and then be put back in bed with the door shut - when we put it that way he always chooses to stay in his room.
At the same stage with DD we had to remove the lightbulb on one occasion - but only once - once she knew we really meant our threat we never had to do it again.

If it is just excitement of having her sister with her why don't you let the girls sleep together and chat to sleep? It is the holidays after all.
hope it is just for a few nights though.

We've tried letting them chat together, but it gets to the point where DSD is tired and wants to sleep, and DD doesn't, so she will get out of bed and try to keep DSD awake!
DD is bad at settling whether DSD is here or not, it's just that when DSD is here it's ore of a problem as they share the room!