How long does it take to settle your three year old at night?

[mammameerkat]

Hi

Just wondered how long it takes you to settle your children in the evening at bedtime? My just turned three year old gets in bed at 7 and is generally asleep by 7.30, after getting back up for a wee, for a kiss for a drink and with me sitting in with her. Is this normal? I used to be able to tuck her in, walk out and close the door! If I do that now she screams blue murder, so I have resorted to holding her hand until she drops off. I’m wondering if we need to try and get her to fall asleep again on her own by doing controlled crying. I’m just not sure I can do it! Any advice gratefully received. When she stays with my parents on the odd occasion she drops off on her own without anyone in the room!

[Sparrowlegs248]

I have a just 3 yr old and an 18 months old. We do stories in 3 yr olds room. Baby wanders about. We have a chat then I "have to go and give your brother his milk" so 3yr old goes to bed. I tell him I'll come back when his brothers asleep. I always do and he's always asleep. Saying that, he's still got the sides on his cot bed.......

[Cutesbabasmummy]

DS 3.5 is actually in his pjs by about 7 or 7 10pm, and then he gets two or maybe three books (short ones) read to him. Then it a kiss and lights out by 7.30ish. He plays my DH up a bit and tries to get him to read yet another story but I'm a bit firmer with him. if he is really tired he only wants one book! I fed him to sleep when he was little and then would rock him but he started nursery at 9 months and I realised they wouldn't do that for naps so I gradually rocked him less and less until I could put him down awake and he would just go to sleep. We have never sat with him until he drops off.

[mockorangey]

My almost 4 year old is in bed at about 7.30 and takes anything from 20min - 1 hour to go to sleep. He almost always wants me to sleep in his room "for just one minute", then he wants water, then he wants to sleep in my room "for one minute". Then I get called upstairs a couple more times for various things, until he eventually accepts it is time to sleep. I'm sure he would like me to stay till he falls asleep, but it can take a long time, and I think me being there is distracting.