Bedtime tricks

[lyndar]

How the hell do you get your kids to go to bed early

Mine are still up and they don't get much sleep so I don't know how they have so much energy throughout the day

Don't know what age they are but did read on MN someone who turns all the lights/tv etc off downstairs so their DC all gravitated upstairs to their bedrooms.

Wi-fi off? No phones/tablets.

Make your bedroom lovely and cosy so that If all else fails you can shit yourself in there and watch a box set in peace (provided DC old enough to be left to own devices)

Ahhhh OP.

please don't shit yourself in your bedroom, I don't think that will make your evening any easier!

Shit yourself....😆

Depending on kids ages the answers will be v different

@settmenu I turn the lights off by the mains -doesn't work

They are between the ages of 6 and 11

Mine get kinda hyper the later it gets. I give countdown warnings, wifi off and let them read for half hour. That usually winds them down a good bit.

Their bedtime routine is all technology off at 8 ;have a story but there's normally fighting so lately there's no story we have a chat instead ; tuck in bed and lavender oil on pillows too I go down lights are turned off by the mains and all hell breaks loose upstairs
This is every single night

Oh forgot brush teeth they have their tea and snack and also bedtime snack but they come down saying their hungry every night and I have to repeatedly say no more food
They fight every single night and are fighting now I am here retreating because I'm sick of shouting and crying
I have kindly explained to my 11-year-old that he is selfish because his explanation for staying up is I should be up at midnight it's too early
I'm surprised I'm still alive to be honest 🤣

It's the fighting and the constant coming down that is the problem
I am ashamed and exhausted and it's making me ill

How many of them are there, do they share rooms at all? I'm guessing you're on your own with them?

Do they share a room? If so maybe they are keeping each other up? My sister has a small house but has very successfully put a wall up in her daughter and sons room, so they each have their own space and don't disturb each other- especially at bed time.

My 7 year old has been a nightmare tonight. I've lay beside her in the dark for the past hour. Shes had the hiccups felt sick, thirsty all that mallarky.

The only way shes shut up is both of us counting to a certain number in our head then we both raise an arm or finger when we get to the number say 8. She holds her breath when doing it originally to stop the hiccups but its calmed her down.

Maybe could take privileges away such as no screen time the following day if they don't do as told? Has worked with mine on occasion.

Do they read or would they listen to audiobooks?? Using headphones?