Kids keeping each other up at bed time

[BillywigStings]

What’s your best tips for getting kids to sleep well in the same room together?

So far I have tried

• regular bed time routine inc stories and requirement to use loo before bed
• house is quiet and minimal talking and eye contact at bed time
• older child goes to sleep half an hour later (he is the actual culprit and calls me back repeatedly for any reason he can think of and is noisy enough to wake his brother most nights).
• I don’t give in to allowing bed time snacks
• they have a half bottle of water by their beds but once it’s gone it’s gone

I am 37 weeks pregnant, alone, hormonal and currently in frustrated tears as my son has been badly behaved all day and was put to bed an hour ago and so far he has needed a poo, a pee, dropped toys onto the lower bunk, woken his brother by shouting he wanted him to pass his toys back, stamped his feet and woke his brother, jumped over the baby gate as we went in and woke his brother, called me back to tell me he had helpfully been sick under his pillow, been sick on his pillow, on his sheet, in and out of the bucket I gave him, on the carpet and then needed a pee while being sick. I don’t think he’s faking the vomiting but I do think he’s purposefully making a mess. Have just been dealing with it calmly other than briefly giving into shouting earlier and regretting it but honestly wtf

How old are they?

Divide and conquer may be the quickest solution. Is there anyway to move one of them into a different room. Maybe move the younger one into your room after he's fallen asleep and them move him back after the eldest has gone to sleep (if you can lift/have someone to help).

Is the older one just not tired? Could he go to bed an hour after the younger one?

Reward chart for the older one? He gets a star each night he doesn't wake his brother, 5 stars and he gets a prize.

Although I would say tonight he is obviously not well so cut him some slack! Might explain his bad behaviour earlier in the day too.

I think once your oldest has got over his little illness you explain that if he can't stay quiet when he's asked to you'll have to put him to bed before the younger one i/o visa versa. If he takes ages then quitely put the younger one to bed in your bed or something then move him when both asleep. The threat of going to bed earlier than the younger sib might well be enough to persuade him to stay quiet.