how do I get my 8 year old back into a good bedtime routine?

[lancaster79]

When she can't get to sleep within about an hour she gets more and more upset and ends up howling in an unstoppable way. I have suggested reading, listening to tapes but none seem to work. If she starts crying it always ends up with her sleeping in my bed as she can't calm down and get to sleep any other way. I'm fed up. Any ideas?

So she's worked out if she kicks up a fuss she can sleep in her mums bed which she prefers to her own bed? Sounds like you need to get tough, sounds like shes had lots of sympathy and attention and obviously she has taken this to mean she can play this game every night.

Sorry I don't sound more sympathetic, I believe children should sleep in their own beds for the sake of everyone's sanity and so the whole house can get a good nights sleep.

Evene if she spent 2 or 3 hours reading at least she would be relaxing in her own bed and you would be getting some time to yourself.

What time do you send her to bed? Has anything changed recently? What kicked this off? (jsut thought i'd ask a few questions, should have asked the questions first really, sorry!)