Advice please. My 3 yr old DD makes bedtime hellish

[SarkyMummy]

My 5 & 3 year old DDs share a room. The 5 year old is pretty good at accepting that the end of stories (and routine overall) means it's time to go to to sleep. My 3 year old on the other hand takes the end of stories as a cue to start jumping around, coming out of their room on flimsy pretences and generally being a pain in the arse. It's not unusual to have to return her to bed 5 or six times. She shrieks whilst you do this disturbing her sister, so we sometimes relent and keep her downstairs until the eldest is asleep (she's at school so we feel her sleep is important). Obviously this teaches her shrieking is rewarded but that aside from that as tips please? She's otherwise a really energetic and affectionate little one - if extremely strong willed. We're so tired of losing evenings to this power struggle and as time goes on I'm increasingly short tempered with her. Anyone else who has cracked this?

I think the relenting is your problem here. She needs to know you mean business when putting her to bed and expecting her to stay there.

If there is no obvious distress regarding separation or fears about her room then I would say she is pushing boundaries because she knows that she can and will get away with it.

You may need to accept a couple of weeks of your eldest being disturbed to nip this in the bud.

Do you stay upstairs whilst she is mucking about? You may need to so you can ensure a swift response and a quick return to bed.

Have you seen this thread? Worth a try www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2576593-I-cant-believe-this-actually-worked-Toddler-sleep-related

Have you tried putting your younger daughter to bed first (earlier) and the elder one later? Could she have her story downstairs while her sister is settling down?

Thanks GothicRainbow. I fear you're right. I'm of your view but my partner is lead relenter. God help me, I'm - I mean me and my partner - will need to tackle this head on don't we? Thanks for the nudge.

Fern25 - thank you v much. I'll try that (maybe once potty training sweet jar scheme is finished). MrsLeighHalfpenny - we've thought about that but trouble is that eldest is the most in need of bed! Thanks all - appreciate the support.

But she's awake anyway if DD2 is larking about.