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Help! Toddler bedtime is awful!

2 replies

Win3oclock · 18/06/2020 20:22

I can’t help but think that bedtime in every other household goes swimmingly, and mine is just a shower of sh*t.
I have a 3 year old, a 2 year old and a newborn. My house is fairly small, so we have had to put the two toddlers in bunk beds in the same room. We did this in December 2019 with a hope that they would have time to adjust before the new baby arrived. They love sharing the room, a little too much and NEVER just go to sleep. No matter how many books I read or don’t read, no matter how many warnings they get given, no matter how many rows they have - they just will not go to sleep.
They whisper to each other and wind each other up to the point where they are laughing hysterically every single night. This goes on for hours. I can sometimes shorten it to an hour, but for that to happen I have to stay in the room and sit on the floor with them.
I’m at the end of my rope. I know they are small, but they are so so so cheeky, and naughty. I’m worried that if I don’t nip this behaviour in the bud now then they’ll grow up to be terrible people - bullies, argumentative, spoilt, bratty.
I’ve lost my cool with them several times, and I know that isn’t good. I just do not know what else to do. I’m currently writing this sitting on the floor in their room, in the dark, feeling absolutely rotten that another day has ended with a shouting match between us. I love them so much, and I’m trying my absolute best to do what’s best for them - but am 100% struggling to be the best. Please help me.

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sleepismysuperpower1 · 18/06/2020 20:31

do they go to bed at the same time OP? I think I would try staggered bedtimes. So, 6:45pm for your 2yo and 7:15pm for your 3yo, as that gives your 2yo 30 mins to fall asleep/calm down.

Win3oclock · 18/06/2020 21:33

At the moment, they both go to bed at the same time. Usually 7pm, but I’m usually still
In their room at 8pm calming them down. I’m
Not sure how to calm them down if I’m honest; my 3 year old would be pretty good I think - but my 2 year old is absolutely off the wall bonkers. I will try staggered bed times tomorrow and see how I get off. Thank for suggesting it, I’ve never thought of that before. X

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