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Parenting

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Original poster

3.5yo bedtime an utter circus since coming out of the cot

15 replies

YRGAM · 15/05/2023 21:09

I'm sure others have been through this, just after some advice! DS climbed out of his cot a few weeks ago so he's had to go in a big boy bed. Bedtimes have been an absolute disaster ever since - between 1.5 and 2 hours of getting out of the bed, giggling, tantrums, throwing things, coming downstairs, wanting pyjamas on and off, and just general fighting sleep.

He's getting to sleep at around 9pm every night, and getting up between 5.30 and 6am as there's nothing stopping him getting out. Has anyone experienced this and can give any tips? Given he's never been a big napper it's now got to a stage where I'm worried about the lack of sleep affecting his development, and he's just cranky all the time. I'm at my wits' end, and that's not to mention losing my evenings entirely!

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VivaVivaa · 15/05/2023 21:15

Given he's never been a big napper

Sorry, it’s a little unclear from this, does he still nap or not? Because if he does I’d scrap that in a heartbeat.

If he doesn’t, I’d wait for the novelty to wear off.

AlliumFairy · 15/05/2023 21:19

Circus is a good description . All very familiar from many years ago. The most infuriating thing DS did was this slow belly crawl up the stairs. He was technically going to bed as told but actually making the journey to bed last an hour.
Desperate measures in the end involhim sleeping with DH in one bedroom while I had the baby in with me.
Tip. Get a double bed after a cot.

Quitelikeit · 15/05/2023 21:20

This is easy put a safety gate on his bedroom door!

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NoKnit · 15/05/2023 21:24

3.5 and still in a cot?
Honestly I guess you realise yourself now that this was a mistake. As soon as they can walk and get up properly get rid of the cot. I admit I did it myself my oldest was gone 2.5, maybe closer to 3 when we took bars off the cot. I just wanted him contained. Realised the mistake I made. Second child took bars off cot at 16 months, never ever had an issue.

Obviously all you can do now is be patient and novelty will go away.

Sorry not much help

pookiedoodlepuppy · 15/05/2023 21:25

Yeah it's shit and a really rubbish time of year being forced to give up the cot . I've been where you are many years ago . I'm sorry grit your teeth and keep sending back to bed with a picture book I'm afraid .

matthewstirling · 15/05/2023 21:31

I would (did) keep the bedroom fairly sparse, put a stair gate on the door and leave him to it. You'll find him asleep looking cute in odd positions all around the bedroom for a while and the next thing you know, he'll be doing his A-levels. Or that's how it seems to have gone here.

Original poster

YRGAM · 15/05/2023 21:31

Thanks all. To be honest the guilt about my lack of patience is probably the worst thing, I'm worried he can sense how pissed off I am and that it's making the atmosphere more belligerent than it needs to be.

I guess it's just a case of toughing it out

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Quitelikeit · 15/05/2023 21:42

and the gate idea?

Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday · 15/05/2023 21:56

I took pretty much everything out of bedroom that could hurt or be a pain to tidy up, put a baby gate on and ignored it til the novelty wore off. Mine were a bit younger though at 2ish so perhaps at 3.5 can work gate

yummyscummymummy01 · 15/05/2023 21:58

Black out curtains and stay in the room until they fall asleep then gradually start leaving whilst they're awake. As others say baby gate on door and room
Quite sparse and boring

pookiedoodlepuppy · 15/05/2023 22:12

For gods sake don't start staying in the room until they fall asleep , the evenings are yours .

Inthesky42 · 15/05/2023 22:20

Supernanny routine. Tell him the first time it's bedtime and take him back to bed say night night and leave. All getting out of bed after that is dealt with in silence. You walk him back to bed tuck him in and leave. Stay outside of his door and keep doing this until he is so bored he gives up.
It'll take a few nights.

KnickerlessParsons · 15/05/2023 22:20

Stair gate across the door, and if he falls asleep on the floor, then that's fine - you can pick him up and put him in bed when he's asleep.

Original poster

YRGAM · 18/06/2023 07:27

Thought I'd update - managed to turn this around in the end by waiting outside the door for him to come out, and just carrying him back quietly, abd the same if he came out in the night. After clocking up around 18,000 steps on the first few nights, he eventually got used to it and settles down within 20 minutes at bedtime now. Thanks for the advice!

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FrenchandSaunders · 18/06/2023 07:30

Phew I remember this awful phase.

As for a stair gate mine would have shimmied over that at 2 let alone 3.5

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