Any ideas to fix awful bedtimes? I don't know what else I can try..
Dd is 4 in dec and generally a happy polite and kind little soul. But bedtimes are a completely different story. I do realise I've done it to myself and am just looking for ways out of it really as I hate ending the day so badly.
We start the bedtime routine at 7, wash teeth pjs and stories in bed. Always 3 stories. And it starts off so lovely, our special time together. When it comes time to leave..who am I kidding I cant leave. I turn the light off and kiss goodnight and tuck her in and the screaming starts instantly. Not even whinging just full on screaming at me to stay in the room. If I do stay and lie in the bed with her she just messes around kicking around and jumping up and down on her knees laughing and playing. If I leave the room shes instantly following me out screaming her little head off crying that she wants a cuddle or a drink or a wee. But she takes a cup of water to bed and always goes to the toilet before bed so they are the normal excuses. I take her back in tuck her in and she can be screaming for 2 hours with me in and out. I end up getting annoyed and she can obviously sense that.
I've tried a earlier bedtime incase of being over tired and a later bedtime incase of not being tired enough. She has a night light as she doesn't like the dark. I've tried a sticker chart (this worked fab for the comfort drinking at night when she had bottles and she was soon off them) We've had a little chat about it and she says she just wants a cuddle - but if I stay then she doesn't want a cuddle she wants to play. I've tried a special teddy that I've cuddled first and said if she wants to cuddle mummy she can cuddle the special teddy and thats me giving her a cuddle when she goes to sleep. I've told her I'm going to the loo and IL be back soon and tried to stay away longer each time but she just screams and cries. I've tried sitting by the door but again she just plays and chats and bounces on her bed if she can see me.
We are pregnant and she'll eventually be sharing with her little sister, so once we've redecorated they'll have bunks, so we've showed her her next big girl bed and shes all exited about her 'ladder bed' I've explained that mummy/daddy can't lie in bed with her then as we're too big to go to the top, and she says it's fine but we're a long way from that yet.
I just wish we can have our stories and a cuddle tuck her in and leave the room and end the day with us both happy. If she gets herself in a state she will wake up the next morning crying. This has been going on for months now.
It probably goes back to when we used to co sleep. But that stopped when she was 1 so it's been a while. Then I used to lie with her till she fell asleep. I always thought 'if all she wants is a cuddle then she can have one - she won't be little for long!' but then she got that bit older and the messing around and playing and bouncing on the bed started. If I lie with her now I'm lucky if I'm only lying there an hour. Most of the time it's more. Her daddy took over tonight as I've not been well and don't have the patience for it tonight.
Sorry for the essay just trying to give as much info as possible. What else can I try?