Help me get my five year old to go to bed!

[dingledongle]

DS is five and in year one all school. My trouble is he will not go to bed and sleep through.

Tonight for example we went up for a bath at 6.30 he played in the bath until seven when he had as story and then we have agreed that he can have until 7.30 in his room.

I left him to tend to his siblings and they went off too bed in a similar vein. However he came downstairs at 7.45/8.30 and then 9.00.

Last week when he woke me in the night ( he knocks on wall) I was every cross and he stopped doing this for now.

My issue is I am not getting an evening as he does not stay in bed is I am permanently having half an ear listening for him.

I do mind getting up if he is ill but we should be long past going in at night this should be the exception rather than the rule.

He is a wonderful little boy but we would all benefit from better sleep!

Thanks in advance.

Anyone?

Bump

I share your pain with a yr 1 child. I have had some success with music/ relaxation cd. Relaxation popular this week but it varies. Sticker or reward chart has never worked for us but you could try that. We had a huge bag of those plastic soldiers and he had one if he went to bed nicely but it didn't motivate him enough! Most of bag still under my desk, soldiers forgotten.
No screens at all in the week and mornings only at weekends as that makes it worse.

My DC just doesn't need much sleep and likes company, is a sociable type. He'll be a popular party animal at 20 I'm sure! No help now though, but it makes me feel better about it sometimes!

Thanks weasel son just up again despite going to bed at 7pm. He clearly looks tired and needs some sleep. I need the down time but it is not working.

Will try the no screen thing. Thanks for suggestions.

Desperate as never thought I would be in this position with a five year old.......

I'd recommend a star chart with all the steps of going to bed eg brushing teeth, having a cuddle, going to sleep, sleeping through etc.

If he gets enough stars at the end if the week he gets a special treat.

It's the only thing that worked with DD who was similar to your DC

Hmm, mine still up too, excited as it is his birthday tomorrow! He'll then be unbearably badly behaved as too tired.

Thanks for replies DS very tired today too and had a meltdown!

Hope your son had a good birthday weasle

730 might be too early for him, sorry to be the bearer of bad news :(.Why not try 8-830 as a bedtime for a week, see if that helps. I find it hard to find the sweet spot, time wise. Too early a bed time = messing around, tossing and turning, up and down stairs. Too late = grumpy next day.

Failing that, think the star chart a good idea. Alternatively, could he be coerced into practicing going to bed early "so father Christmas knows he's really asleep as father Christmas only comes to good boys who sleep" or is that too mean?!!!?

Thanks ragusa I think you may be right. He clearly needs less sleep than his DS.

Last night he was really tired and asleep by 7.30 and then was up at 7am.

However I am wondering if he naturally feels sleepy a little later!