please suggest some rules and boundries for my attempt to tame my toddler

[onlywantsone]

Tonight when DD goes to bed, I intend to write out some rules (supper nanny style) for us both to stick to, as I have a terrible staying power, and often contradict myself when it comes to telling her off and establishing boundries.

DD is 2.3 years, and is in nursery. The problem areas are bed time and generla toddler-ness.

Please suggest some things that work in your house hold, and boundries / routines for us to adapt x

To start with, I try to be specific about the behaviour I have wanted to improve, and if the list is too long then prioritise then focus on those areas.
So, to start with, what is it about bed time that you want to improve? What aspects of her toddler-ness need the most attention? Food? Getting into the car? Running off?...

It's a long, long, road this parenting malarky and it might to help you to tick things off one at a time rather than transform her all in one go.

I use ignoring the bad behaviour rather than the list thing - DD is just 2 and understands a lot but wouldn't really manage a sit down and listen to my set of rules.
Well she just doesn't sit down.
I would concentrate on an area and work on one area at a time - ie sitting down at the table to eat food and follow up 'naughty step' removal of food or whatever discipline technique you use consistently - ignore all other bad bahaviour that you aren't focussing on at that time and reward and praise all good behaviour always. They need clear boundaries but not too much talk at this age.

when she hits me or behaves unacceptable, wont share etc, she is sat on the bottom of the stairs for two minutes (until the egg timer goes off) an then she normally says sorry and plays nicely and we forget about it.

Bed time - she wants me to lay with her, go away, read stories, get more milk - cuddle her, make a nest on the floor (Ive made a rod for my own back and let her boss me around for the last 9 months)

Bedtime needs a really clear routine that you stick to night after night. So DS's is (he's 5 btw):

5 pm - TV for half an hour
5.30 pm - tea
6 pm - bath/shower/teeth and so on
6.30 pm - stories from me and DH
7 pm - lights out

We take up a hot water bottle and a drinking bottle of water for him, make sure he has the teddies he wants, and both say goodnight after the stories. Then that's that. This has been his routine for years and seldom changes.

Your DD will not settle into one straight away but if you stick to it, just calmly using the supernanny back to bed technique if she gets up after lights out, she will get the hang of it in the end. I think the thing is to be calm and consistent and NOT give in, no matter how much easier it would make your life for that one evening if you did! Good luck!

Have a limit on stories too - DS knows that as a rule I do one and DH does one. That way, if he gets a third, it's a treat but he knows not to expect one iyswim.