Bedtime bother

[MrsCosmopilite]

I'm sure this has been done to death already but please tell me how I can get my 2.8 DD to go to bed!

she had her dinner, she had a play. She had wind down time, she's had milk and a story. We had a dummy, we held hands. She has had me in to her three times (we're in a one-bedroom flat), and eventually I gave up and got her up so I could sit and eat my dinner. She now is running around and wanting to play. Patently tired but will not give in.

I am feeling very much at the end of my tether.

When you say wind down time, what do you actually do?

I would suggest a bath with lavender/bedtime bubble bath, followed by a cuddle and a story and then bed. Be firm.

Bath every other night (time constraints around work). We do a cuddle, lights low, story with a warm drink, then teeth cleaned and bed.

Or not.

Unfortunately she has a tendency to work herself up to hysterics if left to cry it out. Plus we have thin walls and are in a block of flats.

Does she nap during the day? Stopping the daytime nap cured those sort of antics with our daughter.

She has a short nap some days, not all. As and if she needs.
However, thinking about this in a bit more detail I wonder if the sleeplessness/unsettledness is because she's picking up on my stress.

Sorry - realise this is now drip-feeding.

Been dealing with my late parents house (Dad died last year), getting it emptied of all possessions (30+ years worth of stuff) and furniture, etc. Had no end of stupid bother from solicitors. In the last few weeks I have had to frequently change plans, and haven't been able to give her as much attention as I usually would, because I've had to make constant phone calls etc.

However, this week sees the end of all that, so maybe a calmer me might help.