Kids won't sleep!!

[mumof5cn]

I have 5 children.

Girls 15, 8 and almost 11mths.
Boys 12 and 3.

I'm a single mum, we live in a 3 bedroom house. Currently younger 2 in with me, girls 15 & 8 together and 12 in his own but has bunk beds as 3yr old should be in with him.

My problems are!! My 3yr old will not sleep without me, he will not even fall asleep til gone midnight every night no matter whether we are laying in bed or trying to settle on sofa, then is up and down all night! My 15yr old bullies my 8yr old and my baby was brilliant - went up at 8 and slept all the way through til 8 but now she wakes and screams for hours til at least midnight too!!

I'm at my wits end!! What can I do? Do I change bedroom arrangements, I've tried and tried with routine for my 3yr old!!

Please help!!

Tell your 15 year old she’ll be in with the 3 year old if she doesn’t grow up. She’s old enough to know better than bullying the 8 year old. I mean obviously you won’t actually do it but threatening it might help.

@LouiseTrees

Tell your 15 year old she’ll be in with the 3 year old if she doesn’t grow up. She’s old enough to know better than bullying the 8 year old. I mean obviously you won’t actually do it but threatening it might help.

I have!!!

Oh no! Any other privileges you can take from her or could you actually put her in with the 3 year old for one night just to show her how bad it is? ( although I might be worried about her bullying the 3 year old then). Could the 15 year old be relegated to a sofa bed or something? Like create a bedroom out of a room that isn’t a bedroom.

@LouiseTrees

Oh no! Any other privileges you can take from her or could you actually put her in with the 3 year old for one night just to show her how bad it is? ( although I might be worried about her bullying the 3 year old then). Could the 15 year old be relegated to a sofa bed or something? Like create a bedroom out of a room that isn’t a bedroom.

That's the thing the 3yr old won't settle til really late and not without me?

I guess then she’s need to put up with you in her room though. I do think there has to be some way to separate her and the 8 year old. Could the 8 year old be moved elsewhere ( or a dining room is now a bedroom?) or are any of the rooms big enough to divide into smaller rooms? I don’t have any advice on the 3 year old though. You might be best posting in sleep for that.

@mumof5cn

I have 5 children.

Girls 15, 8 and almost 11mths.
Boys 12 and 3.

I'm a single mum, we live in a 3 bedroom house. Currently younger 2 in with me, girls 15 & 8 together and 12 in his own but has bunk beds as 3yr old should be in with him.

My problems are!! My 3yr old will not sleep without me, he will not even fall asleep til gone midnight every night no matter whether we are laying in bed or trying to settle on sofa, then is up and down all night! My 15yr old bullies my 8yr old and my baby was brilliant - went up at 8 and slept all the way through til 8 but now she wakes and screams for hours til at least midnight too!!

I'm at my wits end!! What can I do? Do I change bedroom arrangements, I've tried and tried with routine for my 3yr old!!

Please help!!

Have you tried sending 8year old to bed first ,while 15 year old reads story's to 3 year old. they could lay on sofa. giving you time to get 11month old to bed. Then obvs 15 year old can go to bed not disturbing the others. Do they like the moon& stars lamp that shines on the ceiling?

Do you need support OP? How is daytime in your house? Why do you think the oldest bullies her sister? Is it about having to share a room or more than that?

I would absolutely put the baby with the 15 year old and tell her to get some perspective she really is old enough to know better.

Put your foot down and send them to bed early or else no telly (or whatever else) you deserve a good night sleep

At 15 your dd is old enough to be told truthfully you are on your knees...