Struggling with dp behaviour management - is he right?

[bluesmile10]

Our 2.7 ds is a delightful but very strong willed little boy. He has never been a good sleeper and gets up early every day, between 6 and 7. (as well as woken at least twice during the night!). He generally gets into bed with us to doze a little and then the tension begins!!!!! He will start to ask to come downstairs or have the telly on. My dp has to be the grumpiest man ever in the mornings and just wants ds to lie quietly (or even ideally go back to sleep til 9!!!!!!!).

This morning he lost his rag being "tired of ds controlling this house!" and put ds back in his bed in his bedroom, where he cried and cried. I didn't have an issue with this, but after 20 mins if leaving him to cry, I asked if he was going to go into him, his reply being no, he could stay in there longer!

This is the bit I struggle with, I can't leave him in their indefinitely - he won't go back to sleep and is still sobbing. So I ended up getting up to bring ds downstairs. Is dp right? Should we just leave him? I find it really difficult! Is there another strategy we can use which will avoid us having a row???

We have set times that lead to different actions (none of which leave DD who is 2.3 crying).

Before 6 am she stays in her bed and is either settled and left or one of us sleeps in her bed with her. Between 6 and 7 am she can come into our bed, but no TV. This is my least favourite bit as she does sometimes go back to sleep, but mostly rolls around and climbs on my head. After 7 am she can watch TV.

Up at 5 here today largely because she went to sleep around 6 but it just happens. I've got tea and mn and dd is watching tv. Not the end if the world

We found a gro clock really useful at that age - the dds knew they had to stay in bed until the sun appeared and sometimes would even go back to sleep. We still use it now (aged 3 and5).

I feel for you. I'm not a morning person and our ds gets up at 5am. In a terrible mood too. Will not settle back and wakes the whole house. We have tried everything.

your dh sounds like me. I don't cope well in the early morning and we tried leaving him unsuccessfully one morning. We tried limited naps, later bedtimes the lot. Nothing makes him sleep later!

My dh now gets up with our son. I then take the children out mid afternoon so he gets a break. I agree with the poster who said get yourself a system.

I would sell my soul for a lie in. And DS is only 8 months! However, children wake early and I don't think there's much you can do about it. At the moment I leave DS in the mornings if he's just burbling, and I try to leave him till 7am if I possibly can. On DH's birthday he slept till 8am, but was then a pita all day with naps and stuff so I'd rather he got up at 7. DH works shifts, so sometimes he gets lie ins, as he's got in late. Generally though he makes the tea whilst I feed DS, then entertains him whilst I have a shower. Then I take DS downstairs for breakfast whilst DH has a bit more of a rest/gets washed and dressed. Then I get some free time whilst DS has his nap.