Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

How can I get my 3 year old to stay in bed

2 replies

snufflepuss · 18/01/2006 20:25

DD is just over 3 and has recently started nursery at prep school and goes 5 mornings a week. We also still have regular afternoon activities on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I know she is overtired and although I am sticking to her evening routine, she will do anything rather than go to bed. I can get her into bed but once I leave her she just keeps screaming until I go back in and then she asks for all manner of things and just faffs around to keep me there. I have tried being nice to her, threatening to take away treats from her, saying I will turn off her music (lullabies) and her nightlight, all to no avail.

We had a massive melt down tonight with me screaming at her, and she actually woke her baby sister up who got into a real state as she didn?t have her favourite teddy ? in the washing machine ? so I found myself rushing between bedrooms trying to calm them both down. Managed to get dd2 to sleep and then dd1 really calmed down and I thought she was ready to sleep so I did my ?mummy loves you but you need to go to sleep speech? and she nodded ? and then five minutes later she was calling out for something else. She is now asleep but it?s taken an hour and I am exhausted and so wound up and still have to make dinner for DH who is not back from work yet.

I know things will improve once she gets used to her new routine but I really would love to hear any tips or suggestions on how I can improve the situation now.

I?m sure many have been there before ? what have you tried and has it worked?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
jstbcs · 18/01/2006 20:36

afraid we have let our dd get her own way!

bath then 6 stories, then her daddy 'helps ' her to sleep.
ie, turns light off, holds her hard, and lies on floor next to her bed... it usually takes 8 min for her to go asleep. she knows if she talks or starts playing up he will go out of room and not 'help' her.

mojomummy · 18/01/2006 20:51

what about letting her look through a book in bed with the light on ?

My DD (2.5) is doing this & is asleep in about 10mins. having said that she declared, no pillow & darker, so went to bed tucked up

Perhaps your DD feels she needs some sort of control ?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread