Siblings sharing a room = night time nightmare!

[CharlieMummaBear]

Hi, am just wondering if anyone has any tips for me please, or can at least tell me I am not the only one with this problem!...I have three girls, the eldest whom are 3.5 and 2.5 share a room and are both in big girl beds so have the ability to escape! My youngest has her own room as is only 6months.
Every night without fail, regardless of how tired the eldest two are, they play up. And I don't mean tantrums or crying I mean literally PLAY up and play about in their room. I have had to take everything out of their bedroom, inc drawers as they were going in them putting knickers etc on their heads! No matter what I say to them, it is the same every night with the youngest mainly going in and out hers and her sister beds, playing about, banging about, and last night they discovered that there were in fact things under their bed in storage boxes which they subsequently went through. I have tried bribery (lol), different bed times, long talks, etc. their routine has not changed at all, it's bath, story and bed as it always has been.
Until they were both in beds they have always been quite good at night, always asleep by 7. Now it's nearer to 9pm and still up at half5. I'm tired lol!
I have put a stair gate across their bedroom door as the eldest began wanderings about 3am but this was when I was pregnant so stair gate seemed the easy answer. With so little sleep they are understandably hard work some days, any suggestions would be great. Perhaps I need to adjust the sleeping arrangements or put 2.5yr old back in a cot!x

Could you stagger bedtimes? Or put one in your bed and one in their room and just mOve when u go to bed?

I'm reluctant to have any of them in my bed, as I think il make a rod for my own back! I tried putting them to bed at different times but the 2.5y stayed awake the whole time. She's like the Duracell bunny, she just goes and goes bless her! Waited a good hour between bedtimes too. I dunno perhaps il give it another try. Thanks though.

I have a similar problem my dd's love to
Play although they usually asleep by half seven/eight. Perhaps the Jo frost stay in bed technique would work and just keep returning them both to bed and start a reward chart for being good and staying in bed. Usually works in a few days it just takes alot of strength to get past the first two nights .

poor you, sounds very hard work.

Do they fight with each other or are they partners in crime? ;)

Any chance the baby could be in with the eldest for a bit?

I would seperate them. Put eldest in her own room and have baby share with the youngest.

Put the baby in your bed/room at the beginning of the night. Then settle the other two in seperate rooms. Move baby once 2.5yr old asleep.

You won't "make a rod for your own back" (I hate that phrase) plenty of people co-sleep and have no problems getting their childre into their own beds/rooms. I co-slept for 16months and he went in his own big bed in his own room perfectly fine. But then you don't have to co-sleep, just maybe have a travel cot in your room to settle baby at the beginning them move her later.

I have three year old twin girls that share a room so I know exactly what you are going through! I have been doing the Jo Frost stay in bed technique (after a fashion) after my step mum suggested it - can't say they are perfect yet, but we are getting there...They even have toys in their room now and the room isn't wrecked evey night. I just say "this is unacceptable behaviour, you are making Mummy sad, stay in bed" or something similar. I don't mind if they chat a bit, as long as they stay in bed. I was screaming at them through tiredness and going a bit loopy so it's definitely helped. Good Luck x

Thanks guys, think I will go with the super nanny route :) many thanks. Just re built 2yr olds cot, hate going on back on things ie bed back to cot but she's a lil monkey! Daren'tut her in with the baby as she is boisterous at best of times and I'd never relax although eldest would be ok. Thanks again all xxx

Good luck and stay strong x short term pain for long term gain and all that :o

I also have a 2.5 & 3.5 yr old (boys). They were always fantastic sleepers and went to bed together from when they were babies but a few months ago they started to mess at bedtime. It would be 9/10 by the time is get them both asleep so I cut out 2.5 year olds nap time and started to put him up at 6:45, then ds2 at 7:30 and it's grand now :)

We had this, it does pass. We left a light on for 5 minutes for them to read quietly, then turned it off to sleep. Threatened closing the door of they wouldn't sleep.

I also have the same problem. I stagger bed time now. I also lay down the law and threats work.

I understand your pain - it has been spoiling my evenings!

I have three year old twin girls who share a room so I know exactly what you are going through. I have been trying the Jo Frost technique with some success, I can even leave toys in the room now! Good Luck

Apologies, posted twice by accident!

Thanks guys! Glad I'm not the only one who suffered this! We resorted to putting 2.5yr old back into a cot, still sharing a room though...it's worked we've had a week worth of decent sleeps woo hoo! Not a perm fix granted but it's working for now :-)