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Original poster

OK, how do you deal with the getting up 6 times a night on Christmas Eve??

44 replies

fartmeistergeneral · 06/12/2006 09:20

I'm sure it was one of the things that I thought of fondly when I was pg with my first, but last year was bloody awful! They didn't get to sleep til 11pm, up at 1am, up at 4am (opened stockings) and I don't know if they got back to sleep after that. They came through to me at 7am and were knackered, hardly spoke for the whole of Christmas day!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
fartmeistergeneral · 06/12/2006 11:51

jeez, calm down, it was a tongue in cheek thread!!!

I'm not 'complaining' about anything!!! And, actually, my children weren't 'calm' on Christmas Day, they were half asleep.

This is bringing back memories of my very first thread on mn when I said my boys were quite annoying and the backlash was ridiculous!

Anyway, I'm aware that it's all part of Christmas, just looking to see if any one has any good tips.

That's all!

OP posts:
wrappingpaperBOwZZAndribbons · 06/12/2006 12:18

I don't get this. Who needs to calm down? Although I have to say that tired does not = calm in our house. It is more likely to mean tantrumming/fighting etc. But not a problem to me because they will sleep.

paulaplumpbottom · 06/12/2006 12:58

What exactly did I say to deserve that Wondercod?

paulaplumpbottom · 06/12/2006 13:29

I also don't have a nanny.

deaconblue · 06/12/2006 13:32

Cod, not only did your kids forget their birthdays, but you changed the date to convenient days!!!
Could you not try shoving children up chimney on Christmas Eve for an extra couple of hours kip, fartmeister??

Waswondering · 06/12/2006 13:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

twickersmum · 06/12/2006 13:37

we got up at 4am
opened all our pressies
then went back to bed
brilliant.

but now with my own children, the stair gate will be locked and all pressies downstairs by the tree... i'll be saying "back to bed or santa can't come!"

LorinaLovesSprouts · 06/12/2006 13:52

Do everything you can to wear them out on christmas eve. Long walk in the woods type of afternoon if possible.

Big mistake to open stocking as soon as they wake up.If you dont open stocking and presents until after breakfast then they havent got the same incentive to get up at silly o'clock in the morning.

Be reasonable though,they are kids,its is christmas ,they arent going to be in their normal sleep pattern!

WonderCod · 08/12/2006 20:17

shpping bags
i have only jsut seent his
ti wa totalyl normal thing to do

wheresthehamster · 08/12/2006 21:17

Now mine are older I actually miss them jumping all over the bed at 4am.

They still get excited but go back to sleep till about 8.

Just go with it and try to have a grin on your face every time they wake you up! All the effort we put into Christmas is usually for their benefit anyway.

glitterfairy · 08/12/2006 21:19

My mum used to line us all up for Benylin on Christmas eve and the taste still does it for me! She thought drugs were the answer but it didnt work!

nutcracker · 08/12/2006 21:23

Mine don't get up.

I tell them that if santa sees them open their eyes even once before it is light, they get nothing.

Has worked so far

deaconblue · 08/12/2006 21:41

sorry Cod, shouldn't reveal your secrets.

hana · 08/12/2006 22:34

not sure how to deal with it - oldest is only 5 and loves her sleep......but when we were little mum used to put tape acrosss the bottom of the stairs - if it was there we coudlnt' go into family room.......duh.......we just slipped underneath it!

TheChristmasArmadillo · 08/12/2006 22:42

There is a simple answer it mever fails.

First you get some handcuffs and chain them to the bed, then you gag them.

Then you bop them over the head (sends 'em to sleep) - you can send off for my book 'how hard to hit for 10 hours of unconciousness' (rrp £10.99 + p&p).

Then you go out the room and hammer planks across the door and a couple of bolts and you're set for a peaceful and relaxing night.

A little preparation is all it takes

Skribble · 08/12/2006 22:43

Am I the only person that has to go and wake my kids up, MIL is usualy upstairs to see if they are up before they wake aswell.

In fact how can I make my MIL sleep lionger so she isn't perched on the end of our bed first thing in the morning.

So kids go to bed about 10pm, sleeping by 11pm. Adult supper about 11pm and stockings deliverd about midnight. Bed by 1am.

Kids wake or woken about 8.30am
Stockings opened in our bed, takes until at least 9am.
Dressed and downstairs for toast and tea.
Presents opening starts about 10am and can last well into the day as we all take turns, break for grub about 11.30am.
Something more substantial about 1pm and dinner about 4pm.

mears · 08/12/2006 22:47

I have always filled stockings at the end of the bed. My children NEVER got up early - don't know why really. Certainly not allowed to come and wake me!

My dilemma is that they take so long to go to sleep now that I will be too tired to wake. I am thinking of moving their stockings to the livingroom.

BTW DS1 is 19 yrs, DS2 17 yrs, DS3 16yrs and DD is 13 yrs.

Am I going over the top worrying about this? I will be changing the tradition of 19 years

glitterfairyonachristmastree · 08/12/2006 22:52

LOL mears that is what mums are for! Maintaining traditions whilst all around discard thiers.

mrsSnoah · 08/12/2006 23:21

fraid thats our usual set up too the old 4am start business, hyped up on chocolate found in stocking then crashing low around 11am

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