Quick - 3 year old being an arse about bedtime. Tips please!

[Silverthorns]

The poor boy's knackered but since he went up over an hour ago he's come out shouting for a cuddle, a drink, his covers to be tucked in (again), a toilet trip and is now howling for water. I've explained (an hour ago) that enough is enough but he's a persistent little so and so. I don't want him to be thirsty but he did have a drink before bed and I told him I'm not going up again and don't want to undermine myself. But he will go on howling for at least another hour if I ignore him...

What shall I do? (am sure ds1 was never this much trouble.)

He's still going- its been 2 hours! Help!

I have a 3 yr old the same- however have had flu for a week and he is cured as I had to leave him screaming!! every night, it got less and tonight he went down with a couple of grumbles....

If he's not ill you could try our technique. The only word we said after they are meant to be in bed is 'bed'. They soon get the idea.

Interesting... He's still up trough the night asking to be tucked in. Think we'll have to just shut the door and ignore. Bit grim when he's waking his brother up tho. Hope you're feeling better now?

Do you have any story CDs? Could you stick one on in his bedroom in the hope that he'll lie down and listen and then drift off once he's all cosy in bed?

It seems cruel, but actually you're being kind. So don't feel guilty for being firm. They need their sleep and they will sleep better when they realise that nothing happens after bedtime. It's just like getting them to eat properly or brush their teeth.

Thanks - still a bit off, but am well enough to mn.....

Mine still takes a sports-type bottle of water to bed so he can just have a drink if he wakes up thirsty. One less excuse to get out of bed. Otherwise I agree with other advice. One thing that helped us was to have a clear routine of various things we do (toilet, 2 stories, 1 out of bed 1 in bed, kiss goodnight) and then he accepted much more readily that we would go and he had to settle down.

Ours did both have cups with kids they took but they weren't the same so yo can imagine the fights, we had to put a stop to cups. Think will have to explain the rules quite clearly tomorrow night and then stick to it. Like the just saying "bed" tactic. Thanks for the support.

Cups with lids. Bloody phone.

For the 'bed' tactic, use a friendly but firm (slightly bored?) tone of voice, don't plead, shout, whine or snarl, and never ever make it sound like a question or suggestion. Ours found it quite funny.

Agree with 80schick also about routine. My dds is bordering on a ritual, we say the same things before we turn out the light, every night.

We have a ritual here too, and my DS1 who is prone to defiance knows not to push it, his father who hasn't seen him all day is a slightly softer touch

The key is to be firm and not get drawn into a negotiation, once you cave once then that is it and you'll be there forever!

I so wish I could get the rest of the day to work as well as bedtime does