Anyone else mid bedtime battle

[Goodebe]

Just looking for some solidarity as I return the three year old to bed for the millionth time, there’s screaming, tears, tantrums and I’m done in. Two year old is going to sleep of her own accord as it’s past bedtime and she hasn’t had a chance to be tucked in yet! Six year old watching iPad waiting for me to come and settle her too. I’m utterly exhausted by bedtimes and it’s not getting any better.

Yes but I am only just starting with my 3 and 5 year old now. My 7 year old goes about 9:30/10 ish. Sometimes one of us lies with them sometimes not. I’ve given up trying to put them to bed before they are ready especially at this time of year. The fact you have been fighting with your three year old for a while already tells me you are trying too soon.
There is an obsession in this country with getting them down before 7:30. Wait till they are ready and it becomes a bit easier. I’ve just accepted I get less of an evening. Actually me and DH have hidden in another room watching our tele and left them to run amuck so we still get our time just in the wrong order. Sometimes they come and tell us they are ready to go to bed. Just sat here bathing the 5 year old now.

So you know what you’ve reaffirmed what I’ve been thinking. This is the first night I’ve bothered an early bedtime in ages, it’s usually ten pm they go to bed and I have been hidden away in my room watching tv while they play and Mess around. Maybe I’ll just stick with what I’ve been doing!

I’m all for a bit of relaxed parenting especially in the summer! My 5 year old loves to fall asleep watching a Disney film so I often let her do that while I put the three year old to bed. Sometimes he is the most wired especially after he has had long day nap so I focus on getting the 5 year old down with a lot of stories and school reading ( that always seems to knock her out). I guess I play it by ear each night. Divide and conquer often works as they wind each other up. DH tends to focus on our older one.

Oh and pick just one to bath ( whichever is the smelliest).

Pick one to bath - love this

3 year old has started being a right pain about bedtime. Started a few weeks ago. We are staying with my parents for a week so her and the 5 year old are sharing. Both still wide awake now and refusing to stay lying down. 2 nights so far and they've both been awake till 9.30 but up at 5.30. I've been very cross this evening

14 month old is wide awake and rushing about. He's very cheery, just not tired! Normally he'd have been asleep for an hour by now. I have no idea what is different this evening

My 2.5 year old: I need a wee, I need a poo, I can’t do a poo, I need a book, pleeesssee, screams hysterically, I’ve got a hiccup (she means cough), can I have water (drops water on her knee from height of 2 inches), my knee my knee oooowwwee, screams hysterically.

Argh!! I silently helped her drink some water and silently rubbed cream on her knee, then stroked the knee! She calmed down and I’m now waiting outside! I think she’s asleep

She had a nap in the car at 4 after a day out so it’s been a tough one!

DH still in with 4 yr old!

It’s that afternoon nap that’s the killer isn’t it! We’ve been doing the off afternoon out as summer holidays, although all my efforts at wearing them out is reversed when they fall asleep on the way home. Windows down the lot today and didn’t stop the little one nodding off. I’ve got two down now, being more relaxed about the older one especially since reading some of the responses here, I think I need to be a bit more laid back and enjoy the peace and quiet in the morning while I’m working and they are all still asleep!