4 year old just will not go to sleep!!!

[LadyEatsCrispsALot]

My DS is 4 in a few weeks. He has always been great at going to sleep. Story then bed, no problem.
But for the past four nights he is out of bed all the time. He needs a wee apparently. Then he is shouting out for us, when I go up its nothing. He just chats . I settle him and state it's time to sleep now.
He snuggles down but continues to shout out and then willmget up again for another wee! It's exhausting going up and down the stairs. It was 11.45 last night before he finally fell asleep.
He still shouting out now! Aaaagggh!
He's not distressed at all, just awake! He doesn't nap in the day.
I am at a loss....:(

Try giving him alternatives to calling you. If he has had a drink and wee before bed and he is warm and comfortable, you have given him lots of attention during the day he should be expected to stay in bed. Explain that its bedtime and you have 'jobs' to do and you don't want him to shout out.Tell him that if he wants to look at a book he can but mummy isn't going to chat until morning. Give him some incentives to stay in his bed stickers or similar.He has been a good sleeper up until now if you are consistant it should just be a 'blip'. (make sure he is getting load of fresh air and excersise!!) Good Luck!

Ok thanks . I will try that. He fell asleep at 9.30! stickers a good idea too! Xx

Does he have a nightlight? My DS went through a phase like this and a friend recommended leaving a nightlight on (always pitch black before in his room). Was v sceptical but it worked! No idea why but might be worth a try?

We've just come out the other side of a blip with my excellent sleeper dd1, (nearly 4). From nowhere she started messing about at bedtime a couple of weeks ago, and also up in the night. A torch seemed to help to distract her at bedtime. And the sticker chart has worked wonders, she is working towards a small present she has chosen, and if she got 10 stickers in a row she gets the prize - day 9 tonight and all seems better (although helpled along with a virus and over tiredness which has knocked the fight out of her!) Good luck!

Hurrah. The promise of a little present tomorrow if he did not shout out worked! Also a bike ride and play in the park may also have helped!
Straight to sleep! Thank you! Xxx