Wondering what your routines are with your five year old at bedtime as we are very much struggling and really would like some tips. He has always been a bad sleeper and defiant when it comes to getting dressed and brushing teeth etc. But it’s got worse now he’s just started school as he is tired and grumpy.
Tonight for example I asked him after his bath to help me pack up his toys before bed. They were on his floor next to his bed and he’d trip on them when he comes into our bed in the middle of the night. I asked him multiple times and he didn’t do it. Finally I said if he doesn’t do it there is no toothbrush song (he likes to watch a toothbrushing YouTube video when doing his teeth). He still wouldn’t help me tidy so I followed through with no song. That resulted in a full on tantrum with him yelling and kicking and screaming. So he then got put straight to bed without a book. Once he calmed down his dad went to lie down with him, but he wouldn’t sleep for two hours. He struggled to wind down without the book so I don’t think we can use that as a consequence anymore. If we leave him to go to sleep by himself he screams that he is scared and frightened, and actually starts to do a scared cry, so we cave and sit with him. I can’t have the yelling as he has a baby brother in the next room.
He has always struggled to wind his body down for bed and even needs to be constantly reminded to close his eyes and be still - in order to go to sleep. I didn’t think we’d still be doing this reminding at five and I don’t know what I can do to help him. Other than that he’s a very bright child and we don’t have too many issues with following instructions outside of bedtime and getting ready in the morning. Mornings are easier though as he knows if he’s not ready before our timer goes off he will miss the school bell.