christmas eve and dc's in bed but not asleep

[PresentsRibbonsAndMerrySantas]

what time do your dc's go to sleep on xmas eve, last christmas ds was still running about at 11.30 but was asleep shortly after midnight [he has asd though] but dd1 was still awake and coming down stairs at 3am saying i can not sleep, we managed to get to bed at 4.30am she better not do it this year, we have to wait until all dc's are in bed asleep before santa does his work

We have managed so far by a new pair of pyjamas on Christmas Eve. These are left whilst we are having a dinner ( we ring a small bell) and then the dc (6 and 2) find them under their pillows. They are pyjama left by santa's elves that are magic for one night only - and Santa uses them to see if you are alsleep or not and simply won't come if you are awake. The eldest ds is still talking about those pyjames now and they are ankle swingers.

If you're awake, Santa won't come. He only comes in to the house when everyone is asleep (or in their room, in bed, with the door closed and lights out, pretending to be asleep so hard that even Santa is fooled) People who stay awake don't get presents!

Try to tire them out on Christmas eve. Midnight mass is a good one too.

Long long walk in the woods on Christmas eve. Nice peaceful evening. Presents left in living room. Threaten to send one present back for every time they leave their bedroom.

My two are in bed by 7pm. I'm not being smug, honest . DS also has ASD but I tell them very seriously and sternly that Father Christmas won't come until they have been fast asleep for hours and it works a treat.

I did this to my parents when I was about 10! Got myself so over-excited I didn't go to sleep all night. It wasn't really about the Father Christmas thing, it was the whole Christmas experience I was looking forward to.

From then on all presents stayed downstairs

Change the times on the clocks.

We have to wake our two up on Christmas morning-every year. They are 9 and 12.

My dd1 is 7, 8 in Jan and scared shitless by FC...she won't sleep as she is worried so we have to tell her he leaves the stockings in the living room ! I did last year have to set the alarm for 3 am as the girls were both awake when we went to bed at midnight !

We struggled last year to get the dd's to sleep, both have ASD, dd1 wanted to go to sleep but was trying so hard she couldn't sleep, dd2 was petrified of the thought of father christmas coming into the house (this year we wont even mention the big man), i think they went to sleep around 11pm.

One year ds1 was up and down with every excuse under the sun. I was very close to dressing him and take him to midnight mass before he fell asleep.

For the past two years I've taken dcs out in the daytime and walked the legs off them. Usually round town (no woods here) to look at the lights and maybe a go on the Christmas ride. After tea we go to the cinema, then home, bath with nice lush bath bomb, hot milky drink and bed. This usually does the trick and they sleep like babies.

Also, if they have been very excited I have given them a dose of anti histamine (piriton) which helps them to relax. However this is my method and not done on medical advice.

My DD is a nightmare going to sleep usually but last year on Christmas Eve she disappeared and DH and i found her tucked up in bed around 7pm ish - she said the quicker she went to sleep the quicker Christmas would come; 6yr old logic that worked

Sorry, that hasn't helped you at all but you could drop hints now about getting to bed early to make it come quicker and the fact Santa doesn't come to awake children. I bought an Advent story book that i read to her each night counting down to the 24th so she was already in the right frame of mind i guess.

Good luck this year.

Stockings stay in hallway/landing here too. Ds is petrified at the thought of FC coming in his room.

We resort to going to bed too or looking as though we are but actually laying awake trying to work ou when they have at last nodded off! My theory is that if all the lights are off and all is quiet, they will settle down more quickly.

Fingers crossed for this year!