3 year old won't go to bed....suggestions please!!

[mum2phoebs]

My DD is 3 next month, she has always been very good at going to bed, sleeping through from 10 weeks.

Recently she has not wanted to go to bed, she constantly wants to come back downstairs for cuddles / drinks / stories. We thought it maybe because her room was so dark so we now leave a light on. She always was fast asleep by 7.15, we just took her to bed said night, night and off she went.

Now it's more like 9.30 by the time she drifts off, that's after lots of crying at the bedroom door, wetting herself to get attention etc.. We have tried Supernanny's method of putting her back to bed time and time again but before we have left the room she is out of her bed! We have tried reward charts, bath before bed, but nothing is working!! Then once she is asleep she wakes at about 2am wanting a wee then won't go back to her bed, she wants to get in our bed. At that time of night we just give in as you can't have a 3 year old screaming at 2am when you live in a semi!! I always said I would never let her come into our bed unless she was poorly, but a habit seems to be forming.

Someone said that because she slept well as a baby we would have all the problems later on and that seems to be ringing true!

Does anyone else have any advice, as we are tearing our hair out!!

Thanks!

What about re doing her room, taking her to buy a new big girl duvet etc?

Also personally I wouldn't let my dd2 come into bed with me and I live in a semi too, the walls can be thicker than you think and I would just apologise to them and say in a week it will be solved and just to bear with you. Everytime you let her in your bed you will have to start the week again so best just to stick to your guns, unless you are happy to carry on as you are, but I'm guessing that you're not and that's why you started this thread?

What time do you start your bedtime routine? (bath, drink, story, sleep)
maybe she's getting over tired? Has she recently given up her daytime nap?

Thanks...

We start the bedtime routine at 6.30 with a bath etc.. then normally tak her to bed at 7.15.

She had given up her nap but in the last month or so she has decided to have a nap some days, but this seems to make no difference to her going to bed.

As of tonight we will attempt to stop her coming into our bed, but how long should I leave her to cry!!??

Getting a new duvet cover is a good idea she may be getting bored of Upsy Daisy or Winnie the Pooh!

Thanks for your suggestions..

I would start the bedtime routine earlier as now she's dropped her nap she will need to go to bed earlier, if too late then she'll get overtired and then problems start and bad habits form which seems to be the case with your lo (thought i'm not there and I don't know her but usually this is the case imo)

I think if you do that she will sleep better and won't wake in the night tbh so won't need to worry about her crying waking the neighbours.

my dd2 used to go to bed at 7pm but once she dropped her nap and started nursery (only part time) she needed earlier nights so is now in bed no later than 6.30 hth

Mine keeps getting out of bed and going into hid brother or sisters rooms.

Used to be a dream to put to bed...

definitely nip the getting out of bed and wanting to come into your bed in the bud, maybe try giving her a sticker in the morning if she's been good at bedtime/ in the night?

Well we stood our ground and didn't let her in our bed last night. She woke at 2am wanting to get in with us, cried for 3 hours!! We are knackered but pleased we didn't give in to her! She's off to bed at 6.30 tonite to see if that helps...