How do I get my 3 yr old to actually go to sleep

[DebbieTheMum]

Because she won't wake up in time the next morning.
I have a ds(6) & dd(3). DS needs 12 hours sleep a night, DD has never needed as much sleep (dropped naps sooner & used to wake earlier). They both go down between 7:00 & 7:15 and need to wake up between 7:00 & 7:15 the next morning.

Getting them to bed is OK, sometimes they have a story CD (doesn't seem to make any difference in actual falling asleep times). BUT DD just doesn't fall asleep, she plays with her toys and looks at her books for hours. Usually the bedroom light is turned back up, it has a dimmer switch.

She has been getting up in the evenings recently, but we can probably fix that as we did before for a sticker for not getting out of bed.

I don't think removing the light bulb will help as she will probably just open her bedroom door and use the hallway light to play by.

BTW I get up at 6:00, to get myself, packed lunches and school bags etc ready. So I am happy for her to wake up earlier and potter about with me.

Please help

I've just done this with my 3 year old

milk, story, song, kiss, lights out

I spent an evening outside her room just going in and putting her back to bed, she did get very cross but I just kept going in, tucking her back in, saying 'time to sleep now' firmly

if the light went on or if I heard books or footsteps i went straight in

if she cried I went in every 10 mins so that she knew I was there

last night she went off quite quickly; I'm hoping she has got the message

I agree with Cappuccino about an evening outside the room - worked with my 3 yr ds.
My ds goes to bed at 8 (understand that your ds needs more sleep, but keeping his younger sis up late may cause probs.) and always wakes between 6-7. However my ds still naps in afternoon for an hour. If your dd still has a nap and you are unable to keep her up later at night could you try skipping the nap? Also make sure she has had time to play outdoors everyday as fresh air does help for a good sleep. Is she at a nursery that can ensure that, rain or shine, she plays outdoors a little?

May not help, just suggestions... good luck

DD dropped her nap at just turned 2 - We couldn't get her to sleep before 10pm by that time.

She has just started Nursery at school & does the lunch and afternoon clubs there. They both have there own playgrounds and go out to play, although this grotty weather has probably put a stop to much outside playtime. Any normal child would be tired by all of this.

OK will spend this evening outside her room - thankfully we have wireless broadband, so you guys can keep me company.

I am hoping that once she starts falling asleep earlier, she will wake up earlier and so will be tired earlier the next night.

I don't know - it sounds like your dd may just be an "night person" rather than a "morning person". Hope the tactic works

Update:
I had a chat with DD & DS and promised them a sticker every time they were ready in time for the walk up to breakfast club - Lets hope DH is ready in time to get them dressed!!!

We also decided to take the lightbulb out.

I spent the evening outside her room, sorting out my bookshelves, what can go to charity shops etc so I can fit my newer books in.

Meanwhile, DD was in and out.

However she still has a nappy at night, which she knows that she should try to keep it clean ready for losing it soon, two of the trips out were to go to the loo & she actually went rather than just a procastination trick. Doing a poo on the loo rather than her nappy was a brand new success story - one I wasn't going to worry about till the actually falling asleep problem was fixed. BTW she had been saving nearly all of her poo's for the nappy at night.

If she got out of bed, she was told to get back in.

DD was asleep by 8:30 - this is a success.
So I will wake her up earlier tomorrow & hopefully she will fall asleep even earlier tonight.

As long as she settles to a new waking up routine (without needing to be woken) by 7:00. DH & his boss will be very happy as DH will be at work on time. I leave the house for work between 7:15 & 7:30 so I miss the dramas.

Thanks for all the advice.
I was DebbieTheMum this morning just had a name change.