how long does it take to get child from bedtime to sleep?

[tallskinnylatte]

Upstairs at 7 for bath, stories and bed. Simple....? I did bath, DH has done stories. 2 HOURS. DD has neat line in avoidance and procrastinating, then ends up going to sleep far too late and is overtired. How can we break this cycle? Not that bad every night and sometime half that but I'd say 1.5 hours fairly normal with bath, 1 hour without. Tips (and record child procrastinations) please!

Not much advice from me here, ds (8) goes to sleep the second his head hits the pillow. Dd (6) has always played in her cot and later on in her bedroom for at least an hour!

Some people are larks, some are owls and there isn't much you can do to change that.

Maybe your bedtime is too early? I tried sitting in dd's bedroom and "force" her to sleep, but we have given up now. She usually puts herself to bed around 9 and knows that we will get cross if she's still up after 9.

You have my sympathy, though. We've had nights when I was really tired but couldn't get myself to go to bed before the 6 yo!

Am watching with interert because my dc takes 2 hours also!

I mean interest!

DD1 (4) goes up for stories at 7.30, bed at 8.

We let her switch her own light off, but will go up around 8.30 if we hear her still awake. Then she'll pretty much go off to sleep.

dd1 is 3.6 - we start getting her ready for bed around 7 (depends on how co-operative dd2, 7 mo, is), she is usually asleep by 8, sometimes earlier, sometimes later. Very rarely after about 8.15. She gets one call-back, and then is told that no-one will come back...she knows this and usually gives up (even though she is very very stubborn and always gives it a whirl).

I think you ensure that all possible needs are met (wee, story, soft toy, covers, drink, hunger, new nappy ) tell her that you love her and then leave. And don't go back.

I often 'persuade' dd with things that she wants to do the next day and for which she doesn't want to be tired...

How old is DD? I used to be doing all that with our DD who's 3. Now I've turned into strict mum. Go upstairs with her and DS (7 months) around 6.45 and do HIS bath and bottle while she plays in her room. Am done with DS by 7.15ish and leave him awake in his cot to get to sleep by himself. Then it's DD's turn - bath - ask which stories she wants (which is usually chit chat about lots of stories) - out of bath and into jimjams and choose 2 stories. All the time I am saying '2 stories then bed' and then 'one more story then bed'. I have one of those gro clock jobbers too which I was incredibly dubious about but I was at my witsend with her and gagging happy to try anything. It actually works. Once the stories are done I say I'm off to cook daddy's dinner (haha) and night night, see you tomorrow. She doesn't go to sleep straight away, she usually looks at other books in bed for a bit. She's usually sparko by 8pm. This has taken a looooong time to get to this and I got that toddler taming book which is a gem.

By which time it's glass of wine time

Soz if your dd is older.... But I do find the more you faff about with them the more they play up. Has only taken me 3 years to realise.... Good luck!

Thanks Woof- DD is 3 and 3mos. I think we need to be stricter- we've always stayed with her til she falls asleep but really want to move away from that. She used to be really hard work to get to sleep but is now generally off and away within 10 mins of lights out (though her last words as she drifts off are often "I'm not tired"). Might try toddler taming book for getting good structure for doing this- hopefully without too many tears....

ha ha tallskinny dd was saying 'I'm not tired' between HUGE yawns tonight. Think you need to be meaner too - set a limit on the number of stories - if she faffs about she forfeits a story. My dd always wants someone to stay, but I usually just set by her bed and chat for a few minutes. She messes about which is a strategy to make you stay longer - but she is told clearly that if she mucks about I will leave; and I do. Woofsaid is on the money.

1.5 - 2 hours to get 3 ds age 4.8, 3.4 and 1.4 bathed and in bed when I get home from work by which point am knackered but I only get then and 1.5 hours in the morning with them so I let them play a bit.
It only took a full 2 hours tonight as ds1 (nearly 5) pood his pants then refused the toilet then started pooing the carpet whilst playing the iPad so I confiscated it and I had a 20 minute screaming tantrum.
Can get pretty stressful but if they aren't asleep by 8 at the latest they are exhausted and Whitney the next day so I persevere with a "proper" bedtime and they do go straight to sleep (usually).

Whitney? I meant whiney!

Ah - same age as mine! Yes, that book has def got good tips I haven't read it all yet but to be honest I only got it for the bedtime bits. Bedtime is still not perfect, but a hell of a lot better. Like you, I used to stay with her until she was asleep - even when I was heavily pregnant she was still dropping off on my lap - I used to have to do a loud stage whisper-esque voice clearing thing so Dh could come and get her off me! Since Ds has arrived we've obviously had to stop all that!

The book is by Dr Christopher Green - well worth a peep

And yes giving in to faffing is a no no.
We went thru a stage where ds 1 wanted me sitting next to him, or the door left open a certain amount or me sitting outside etc etc. meant he just got up and down all night to see if I was there. We went cold turkey and it took 1 night to break it. It's actually easier with the two dest sharing as they like to be together.

Ds (3) has a bath every other night, so an hour one night and half an hour the other night. This includes, him reading to me, 3 stories, 3 songs and kisses and cuddles :)