3 year old sleep problems driving me mad!

[courtney25]

Hi,

I'm having a nightmare with my 3 year old and wondered if anybody has advice/tips. Me and my partner got him in bad habits by always lying down with him to go to bed. So that is the main issue he won't sleep unless one of us are literally laying down with him which honestly drives me mad. My 1 year old goes to bed by himself fine but my 3 year old won't. I tried a couple times to make him go by himself but he got up so many times I gave up and laid with him. Also normally he will go to bed at 7pm but the last couple weeks he is refusing to go! Like it's now nearly 8 and he won't go. I'm shattered! I need more structure and routine please any help!!

Just to add he is 4 in a few weeks x

I would go full "supernanny" on this. He is getting up because he knows you will give in eventually. I had to do this when ds was 2 and he got up around 60 times night 1, 30 times night 2 and only a few night 3. Keep calmly lying them back down, starting off saying it's bed time (or similar). It does work eventually, but you can't give in.

Saying that, he is still resistant about going to bed now, but much older!