DD1 (4yo) won't go to bed. I don't know what to do.

[TickledOnion]

DD1 has been a great sleeper for ages and bedtime was never a problem until the last few weeks. Suddenly she's started refusing to go to bed and I've given in and let her watch tv downstairs as I don't know what else to do. Most nights she will just watch for half an hour and will go to bed happily at 7:30 but the last couple of nights it has been 9pm before she will admit she is tired.

I know this is not good for her but she will continually come out of her room and will think up a million excuses and make herself cry which I'm worried will wake DD2 (2yo) up.

I've told her that there won't be any tv tomorrow night so any ideas what I should do?
I could stay upstairs with her and keep putting her back while her cries get louder and louder.
I could let her come down and refuse to put the tv on. She will follow me round while I do chores, eat dinner and read a book but maybe she'll get bored before 9.
Any other ideas?

Try the card thing as well. Genius idea.

Sounds like a good plan Tickled.

It is difficult doing it by yourself, even without the added complication of DD2.

Book outside her room sounds a good idea.

We bought a portable air conditioner 5 years ago, when DS was a baby, and we found one half price at £100. Has been so helpful on these hot nights. I've never seem them anything like that price again sadly (or we'd have one for our room too!).

Tickled, it must be so hard if your dd is crying for her dad and for you. And a hug, you are a champ keeping everything going.

I'm not sure if she was just tired out from a run of late nights but she's gone to bed without much trouble tonight.

We had half an hour of games which she loved. I explained what I was going to do next and although she begged for more games she went upstairs. I returned her to her room 4 times. The last time she said she was going to make her bed on the floor. I think she did this but I haven't heard anything from her for 30mins so I think she's asleep.

Thanks for all the advice and support last night. Hope this is the beginning of a new phase and not just a one-off.

Brilliant - well done Tickled.

You know that they say that if you do the same thing 3 times with a child it becomes a habit? So only 2 more nights to go, and it should be your new norm.

Sorry, I don't know your backstory, but hope that you are otherwise feeling okay tonight.

Glad it went well tickled :)

It's not gone so well tonight. I think she's finally gone to sleep. I put her back to bed 38 times between 7:35 and 8:20. She cried for most of the that time.

:( Have you got any audio books that you could play for her. That worked well for my eldest when she was having problems getting to sleep. You can get some free mp3 ones online and copy them to CD.

Well done Tickled.

You are doing a good thing for all of your family. She needs her sleep, you need your downtime and your other daughter needs a well-rested mum.

Stick at it. One or two more nights, and it should be fine.

If not, then try something else, such as audio books. But give this approach at least 3-4 nights to become the new normal before you try tweaking.

and

Poor you, sounds utterly miserable. You are doing the right thing though, so well done you!

She will forget the upset, alot sooner than you! She's really testing you tonight as she senses she's going to lose this battle. She may do that for a couple more nights, but youve got to stick to your guns, any giving in makes it even longer for you and her.

Good luck and lots of strength to you!

(I'm rubbish with my four year old and I know I have to do the exact same thing soon - am dreading it!)

I don't know if this will help, but my DD (4) goes through stages of not wanting to go to sleep in he own bed. She asks to sleep in mine, I tell her only if she is so quiet that I don't see or hear her, she creeps like a baby elephant quietly into my room, stays silent so I 'don't hear her' and promptly falls asleep. When I'm ready for bed, I carry her back into hers. Everyone's happy.

Yes to the audio books idea. She might want to stay in bed if she has got something like a story tape to focus on.

Hows it going tickled?

Audio books are a brilliant idea. Good one Anotherstitch.

Can you perhaps bribe encourage her with a new soft toy for being a big girl and doing 5 nights in a row???