Any advise on how to get a 2 1/2 year old toddler to sleep before 11p.m.!!!!

[jestel]

My little girl used to go to sleep around 9.30 but since we bought her a bed it is getting towards 11p.m. by the time she finally nods off..we take it in turns staying with her and reading her a story; if we leave her she just cries and gets out of her bed to come into the lounge......I need to get my evenings back!!!!!!

I've found that saying I will be back in 5/10/15 minutes (whatever I think will work) IF ds is quiet and still in bed works quite well. I Always keep my promise to go back - and if he is shouting for me I will either go just to the door or send dp to remind him that I will be back in IF HE IS QUIET. I had to start out with quite short times (5 mins), but after a while could use 10 minutes. Usually after a couple of visits to give him a kiss and hold his hand (briefly), he falls asleep.
I don't know it this will be any help

yes i only go back if theya re asleep {wink]
sit there till eh is really realxed

jestel- I have a 2.6year old who isnt good at going to sleep on a night. He is even worse with daddy away at the moment. DD and I have taken it in turns tonight so far 2.5hrs and still awake. If I leave him he projectile vomits everywhere.........

I am at my wits end. Hubby not back till Feb 9he is in Afghan_, so on my own , only lived in Germany for 1 month (moved from Cyprus -hubby is in forces) so dont really know anyone and no family to help. And I am 9 weeks pg so knackered....

jestel when does she sleep in the day and if its later than 3pm then its enevitable she wont go to bed at a reasonable hour. what time is she up at in the morn?

Sounds tough have you tried audio-books rather than reading to her. My niece was a shocker for going to bed but likes to listen to her books now as she drifts off. (Guess it's like some adults who listen to the radio or watch TV to go to sleep) How old is DD BTW ?

jestel, do you have a good bedtime routine with a set bedtime? 9.30 is late in itself - overtiredness may be a problem. My dd2 is the same age as yours and she is asleep by 7.0. We did 'rapid return' to get her to sleep on her own a couple of months ago - gradual withdrawl (see below) didn't work for her. I don't know if you have seen it on Tanya Byron's programmes but basically you tuck them in, go, wait outside where they can't see you. The minute they come to the door, you take them back to bed. I found this better than cc, as we never left her to cry. Within a week this had worked.

Twoplus, that sounds awful. We had to do gradual withdrawl with our dd1 rather than rapid return as she'd get very distressed if left. Again you need a good routine in place and a reasonably early bedtime. Then you tuck ds in, light out, no interaction except some quiet soothing if necessary, and stay until he falls asleep. you might start by sitting beside the bed or on it, or lying down. You can then move a bit farther each night - sitting up, sitting beside the bed, then move your chair until you are by the door. Eventually you should just be able to tuck in and go. You may find that gw followed by rapid return works, too. Also try to find a favourite toy, thing of yours (a worn t-shirt with your scent on, perhaps) or other comforter that he can 'look after' for you, and maybe put some family photos in his room - this worked very well for dd1. hth.

try Elizabeth Pantley's "no cry sleep solution for toddlers", it takes you through a thought process to decide exactly what you need to change and then gives you techniques to understand your child and make the changes as painlessly as possible for everyone involved! We've just got our 2yr old ds to fall asleep on his own and to go to bed at 7.30 instead of 11pm. He can also now settle himself if he wakes up in the night, we just needed to show him how to do it. Really recommend the book, was a life saver!

(Not being paid by Amazon to sell it, honest!!!)

tonight I read to him for 30 mins then to;d him I was coming downstairs for 5 mins, kept going back up every 5 mins and he has now gone to sleep took 1hr in total tonight. fingers crossed....