dd1 (nearly 3) has discovered how to put the light on in her bedroom - how do i stop her playing with her toys five minutes after we say 'good night'?

[Aitch]

she has a bloomin' nightlight so it's not like we leave her in pitch darkness or anything...

Give her a choice:

1. Go to bed and stay in bed and the toys stay in her room.
2. The toys will be removed if she keeps getting out of bed after she's been put there.

Why do you care if she's quiet. DD (2) is allowed to muck about as long as she stays in bed and doesn't disturb anyone. I cut out a load of ITNH characters from a cbeebies mag, laminated them and she does 'wall stories' quite happily for twenty minutes and then conks out.

They rarely stay up long. We sneak up an hour later and check she's snoring and relieve her of anything unsuitable she's snuck into her bed with her (normally the cat these days!)

Hi Aitch.

Bribery?
Duct Tape?

And reading in bed might be a good compromise?

Sorry my post came out a bit stern- misuse of emoticons!

I'd leave her - but I'd make a point of waking her bright and early each morning

You say "NO!! DD1 - DO NOT MESS WITH THE LIGHT OR I WILL BE VERY CROSS", switch the light off again, retreat, wait outside until she puts it back on, repeat stage one and so on. If I were you I'd bring some wine and a good book to have as you wait outside.

Eventually there's a Pavlovian reaction whereby she associates light going on with Mum shouting "NO!", and gives up.

You don't. BabyDragon likes to read in bed once I've read her her bedtime story. She always puts her books down and goes to sleep by herself (heaven knows why she's so good about this, she's a stubborn nightmare with everything else). It's very cure.

i don't mind, whomoved, you're right i've not exactly spelled out my complaint accurately. if she was reading or playing in bed that would be okay but she's dragging furniture about in order to get the light on in the first place and then after a while the YELLING starts. she's got a cut on her lip at the moment and she's not above making it bleed so we have to come and help her. MUUUUM, I'VE GOT BLUDS etc etc.

i could move her toys, but they would require a lot of moving.

Take the nightlight away and take the bulb out of the main light. Leave the light on in the hall if she needs some...

I am strict about not mucking around at bedtime (they are allowed wind down time though, so it is lights out about 20 mins after bedtime), as my dc's are horrible when they go to sleep later than they should, and they don't tend to sleep in to catch up.

oooh, lots of posts. i may leave the lamp on to encourage reading. at the moment it's an ikea ghost or the ceiling light.

OK then, big guns. Take out the bulb until she behaves?

BabyDragon has a flower shaped wall light from Ikea which she can turn on herself. It's got a low energy bulb in it so it doesn't get too hot or anything.

i would LOVE to take the bulb out, but the ceilings are 15 ft high and it's fookin' frightening changing them. i ask tall men who visit. and the others are halogens. there are three switches on the one block iykwim?

i know the very one, soupy... i'm deffo getting one. okay cheers. i think that's what i'll do. thanks.

ooh you need one of those pole things - for changing light bulbs U mean. We have some in the studio - saves climbing up big ladders once a month. They are really good (have wandered a bit off top here haven't I)?

How about mittens to stop the little rascal, or a sleeping bag to stop her getting out of bed?

TBH, I'd take the lightbulb out of the main light. I'm probably a bit too harsh though, but like you say there is a night light so she's not in the dark.....
If it's alot of hassle to move her toys out, could you tell her if she wants to play with her dolls (for example) she can't play with them tomorrow?

Page 3?

Our ds 1 has a globe that we got him last Christmas and after reading a story by it it's left on for him to look at the book. He's generally flat out 20-30 mins later and we turn it off. He loves the independence.

(must read op before posting)

just ignore me.....watchin strictly so not concentrating enough

No, they'd need a wide angle lens

a pole? how does that work then?

I wuold say you can stay in bed and read but if you get out of bed and/or play with toys then it's LIE DOWN AND SLEEP TIME

and be strict