Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

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.

nearly 3 yo literally won't go to bed

5 replies

Frazzled2207 · 17/02/2018 20:18

Really don't know what to do with my 2.10 year old. At christmas we moved him into bunk beds with his brother who is 4.5. (previously he was in a cotbed with barrier, he could get out, but rarely would before morning). He was never any good at going to sleep by himself but made a bit of progress since moving in with his brother - until about a week ago.
Bedtime is about 7.30pm but he's starting literally refusing to go. Keeps coming out time and time again, following us round the house if he has to, and only way we can get him to settle is by literally sitting on his bed. if we leave the room with him there he screams (not fair on his brother). Unless we actually gently push his head down on the pillow he will muck about indefinitely. So the earliest this week he's gone to sleep is 9pm, last night it was after 10, having been up at 6! He gave up napping a few months ago and I can't believe he's not tired he's just enjoying pushing all boundaries. He also keeps demanding various toys to join him in bed and I admit I give in just to keep the peace. Anyway just wondering if anyone has any advice or do we just have to hope this is a phase he grows out of? We're all knackered (he is up early as usual every morning) - today we did a long walk to try and knacker him out but he's playing up now and not showing any signs of tiredness again. Meanwhile his big brother is snoring away. Help!

OP posts:
crazycatlady5 · 17/02/2018 22:01

i can't believe he's not tired he's just enjoying pushing all boundaries. He also keeps demanding various toys to join him in bed and I admit I give in just to keep the peace

I don’t believe children enjoy pushing boundaries. They don’t have the mental capacity to do that, he’s not trying to wind you up. Im sure there is a big sleep regression around this age. Also is he frightened of anything? The dark? Has he had any nightmares?

Frazzled2207 · 18/02/2018 09:31

Thanks for replying. He definitely does see it as a little game to some extent. Getting out of bed and seeing me chase him back in.

I don't think there is anything he's scared of, though he has always been keen for me to stay with him until he's asleep. 3 years on, I've got very tired of this Confused

OP posts:
BrownTurkey · 18/02/2018 09:49

Use rapid return strategy or gradual retreat - but both involve completely not engaging with him with facial expression or speech which will remove the ‘game’/reward element for him.

Steeley113 · 18/02/2018 09:57

Gate on the bedroom door and ignore!

Faze84 · 19/02/2018 03:54

Yep agree with pp and rapid return. You have just said yourself you give in the keep the peace.

Turn ds round to bed, little eye contact or conversation other than telling them its bed time and sleep well etc. AND KEEP DOING THIS.

DC had same regression at that age. It eventually worked after a week but normally was a good sleeper

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