bedtime nightmare - any suggestions would be great

[autumnlover]

okay, my dds share a room (5yr old and 2yr old) and up until now its been fine. dd2 is still in a sleeping bag but she has recently been able to get out of it and even out of her cot. so we're thinking its really time for her to have a bed. however dd2 is really active and i dont think i could bear the training involved (ie rapid return). i also know she'll disturb dd1 and try to get in her bed etc. basically be a nightmare .... i also have a 3 mth old who isnt going to sleep in the evenings yet either .... i really dont know what to do

Have you tried putting her sleeping bag on back to front?

What happens when she gets out of her cot?

Any chance of putting 5yr and baby to share whilst you sort out 2 yr old?

i agree with everything you have said cargirl - couldn't have put it better myself

only thing i could suggest would be to make sure dd2 asleep in room before dd1 goes to bed so she wont be disturbed

havent tried putting the sleeping bag back to front. thats a good idea. she likes to wonder so all the doors and stairgates are closed.

baby is still in our bedroom and we havent even got him used to his own cot yet.

so tonight, she's only just gone to sleep!! i'm exhausted and i've got the feed baby now ...

hmmmmmm nightmare!

Very strict routine for a while, cut out day naps?

Mine have been awful the last week or so I think it's partly the heat and light. Have you got a summer bag and black out blinds?

Does that mean at the moment you have an empty bedroom you could use for dd1 whilst you sort out dd2?

and you can use a nappy pin to pin the zipper in place to really stop them escaping!

we do have an empty bedroom for dd1 to sleep in but she also has difficulty going to sleep. all of them have actually.

i like the idea of safety pin to keep the zipper on.

what do you think of this plan

1. concentrate on getting baby to sleep in evenings
2. in the meantime i try everything to keep dd2 in her sleeping bag and cot
3. change dd2 cotbed into bed and then sort her out

i dont think i can bear concentrating on two children at the same time ...

As an aside dd3 is an awful sleeper sometimes taking up to 2 hours to get to sleep! She is nearly 4 we have started cranial osteopathy and seen a massive difference after the first treatment, and a bigger improvement after the 2nd only a couple more to go now......

I would keep dd2 in the cot if possible and yes concentrate on one at a time, or you do the baby and dh dd2?

dd2 - i've previously been able to exhaust her out by making sure she has a good run around after her afternoon nap. then no tv after dinnertime. she is also a thumbsucker so she does know how to self comfort. i think she now only gets 1 hr and more trying to wear her out.

unfortunately dh is not usually around for bedtimes ..

i've always thought about cranial osteopathy but dont know how to find a good practitioner. any ideas?

where abouts do you live, best thing is by recommendation but I can ask mine.

Could the 5yo and 2yo share a bed? Some of mine have slept better when sharing a bed for a while. Our 3yo goes off to sleep some nights with our 7yo and we sometimes put her in her cot asleep and sometimes we leave her.
3mo doesn't really need to go up before you. I can't see you getting a 3mo asleep for the night at an early time.(or maybe that was just my babies )

i live in london, south east - lewisham.

having posted this thread, we've realised that she's neither teething or coming down with something. i hope its just teething ...

thank you for all yr advice though, and i would still love to know who yr cranial osteopathy is cargirl.

many thanks again

Mine practise too far away from you but will ask mine if she can recommend one your way - but isn't there a childrens osteopath centre in London and I think they may offer reduced fees/voluntary contributions?