DD (just over 2 1/2) doesn't go to sleep until 11:00 p.m.

[JoAnne427]

DD finally just fell asleep (it is 11:30 p.m.), and this has been going on for a long time. She fights sleep with everything she's got. And she is smart about it. I put her in bed, and it begins - "I'm hungry." "I have to use the potty." "I'm sick." "I'm going to throw up." "I need juice." "I need more juice," and "I'm hungry (again)."

Well, I'm exhausted, and I don't know what to do. Once she falls asleep, she will usually sleep through the night, but then getting her up in the morning is a nightmare (I work full time and have to get her to nursery school). I have been getting very short-tempered with her, and I hate it. I just came downstairs, saw her pictures and wondered "what happened to my sweet little girl?"

I'm convinced that I have totally screwed her up, I'm tired and angry and at wits end. I desperately need to find a way to get her on a schedule of early to bed, early to rise before I completely lose my mind - and so I can have even just one hour a day to care of house, me, etc without having her up.

Any advice?

Joanne ... my sympathies ... poor you ...
My DS was never that bad but at 2 and a half he certainly started pushing the boundaries ...
Much of it had to do with daytime sleeps and as soon as I shortened them and then eventually cut them out we got back on track and a good bedtime was re-established.
Does your DD have a bedtime routine ... i.e. bathtime then story then bed? Do you do the same every night?
I think you need to get tough with her ... especially if you are suffering and she can't wake up in the morning ...
If you do the same bedtime routine EVERY night and definitely don't give in to demands of juice and food ... My DS went through a phase of demanding juice and I have only given him water if he is desperate (a little sip)- it didn't take him long to realise that he was never going to get juice at night and so now when he asks for water I know he is truly thirsty. Also Remember that juice at night is bad for their teeth!
We are tough on DS in that he hates to have the door shut ... so (after giving him the benefit of the doubt for the first half hour after bedtime) the door gets shut if he a) gets out of bed or b) calls out for something ...
It took a few nights of fights for that to work but it was worth it!
A star chart really helped for us too (but for us star charts only work temporarily and then the novelty wore off so it was put away for a bit) ...
Also Richard Ferber's 'Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems' is a good (if a bit heavy) read with some really excellent advice and it is also a good insight into sleep patterns. It really helped us when things got bad! Alternatively Christopher Green's 'Toddler Taming' has some good pointers.
HTH a bit ....
Ghosty x

Thanks GOCP. Last night, she said she was hungry, and I said she could have breakfast in the morning. And no juice. After some ranting and raving she fell asleep. (Of course, it was in my bed, which is another battle).

I actually have the Ferber book - I forgot I even owned it. Funny enough, the other night I came home from work, walked in the front door, and there it was, on the dining room floor. All by itself. And I thought "huh" and I put it back in the bookshelf. Looks like I have my next read picked out for me!

Thank gos i thought i had the worst child ever,

My DD has been so good then bam she gets this "let me see if i can make you scream mummy"

She too does the i am sick i need a wee i want dad mum.

Fridays she can have a late night, but we have been giving her strick rules three boks at 7pm sleep by 7.30pm or you remain in your room. or your favorite toy comes out...cruel yes but it is working.

Goodluckxxxx