Why is my 3 year old playing up at bedtime?

[Nabster]

Used to be a complete dream to put to bed. Only slight hassle was it always had to be me that did the final tucking in and shutting the door. We got used to late/burnt dinner.

Now, whoever puts him down he gets up and has numerous reasons for why he can't go to bed. Even if I gave in on everything he would still refuse.

Just gone back up to him and he doesn't want to go to bed. Have had a hellish day and really need to get him into bed and asleep for all our sakes.

DH not home until nearly 8 so on my own atm.

Similar situation with dd (3.5). Used to go to bed for DH and pretty straight forward. Then every excuse under the sun for getting up and down. This might not be helpful but for the last six weeks or so, I sit by her bed. She knows I will go downstairs when she's asleep or if she talks (before I would stay but it made me really cross because she would still be talking and it was completely unproductive in terms of going to sleep). Put classic FM on the radio, she lies still and goes to sleep. Job done in 20 minutes and I actually find the music quite soothing too. Seems pretty common for three year olds to have parting issues at bed time and the excuses are not very sophisticated delay tactics! My DH often out in evenings with work and I know that sinking "please go to bed" feeling - so much worse woth one of you.

Thank you. In the end I just left him until his dad got home and hoped he would stay in bed as he had calmed down a bit. Dh had to go in once. The night before he only had to go in twice which is really good. I think DS2 was just playing me up. He is being very defiant at the moment and it is a real shock as my other two weren't like that at 3.