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Bedtime is a nightmare

9 replies

toothfairy73 · 04/01/2020 03:17

Please help. And please be kind.

My 7 year old DD is struggling to fall asleep. I settle her for bed and she just keeps on coming out of her room repeatedly. Over the holidays it has gotten later and later to the point that is now past midnight.

I have tried to re established a bedtime routine; bath, teeth, story, bed. But despite this I still spend 3-4 hours trying to get her to stay in bed. She shares a room with her sister (12). They have bunk beds. We have no other option due to being severely limited in space. Last night they were arguing past midnight.

When she goes to bed there is always a moth/spider/fly that she is terrified of that means she can't possibly sleep in her room. My husband refuses to believe her thinking it's just for attention (whenever I've been in I've always managed to find and sort the offending insect).

The youngest often wants to "start off" on our bed as it's "more comfortable". We then have to try and move her which is easier said than done (and get her on the top bunk).

Last night after trying for hours, (and whilst I was in the bathroom) she came out again and my husband lost it. I heard him screaming at her "are you stupid? You must be stupid....". We then had an argument. I'm so upset he called her stupid. I'm wide awake now, he is snoring, she is asleep between us, and I have no idea what to say in the morning or how to handle this.

We are at the end of our tether. We don't get any time together anymore due to this constant interruption. And I'm so upset at what he said to her I just don't know what to say to him

OP posts:
BillHadersNewWife · 04/01/2020 10:19

It's a horrible cycle. I know, we've had trouble with my youngest for years. mine is 11 now and not much better.

What has helped her though is audio books. Could you try that?

toothfairy73 · 04/01/2020 12:38

Thank you @BillHadersNewWife I will give this a go; we've been trying relaxing music before bed but no joy

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toothfairy73 · 04/01/2020 22:59

@BillHadersNewWife we tried audiobooks tonight. She was still up and down but feel asleep by 10:30pm so is heading in the right direction. Thank you so much!

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BillHadersNewWife · 05/01/2020 03:26

Wahey! That's great. I think some DC are just....kids who need input more than others. They get lonely basically...stories are as good as company.

RoLaren · 05/01/2020 11:06

Could your older one sleep in the top bunk? Much easier to return the younger to the bottom bunk.

toothfairy73 · 05/01/2020 12:17

@RoLaren she doesn't want to. Plus she's really tall so she would be banging her head on the ceiling! We really need more space but are kind of trapped because we can't afford to rent anything bigger

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RoLaren · 05/01/2020 16:25

I'm presuming your partner isn't her father? Wanting to sleep in your bed screams insecurity to me.

veewee · 05/01/2020 22:16

@RoLaren why assume dh isn't the child's father?

All of my kids would rather sleep in our bed & dh is the dad to all of them, some kids would just prefer to sleep next to the people they love the most, I know that's where I prefer to sleep, so why not children?

toothfairy73 · 06/01/2020 00:50

@RoLaren my husband is father to both children

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