5 year old suddenly refusing to go to bed

[Helpsleepds]

Hi all, wondering if any of you have had similar and whether you can help… my 5 year old has had the same bed routine for years now, no real issues (he slept though from 3 years). All of a sudden he is just refusing to go to sleep.. we do the routine and then he says his body is making him feel naughty/bad and he has to stay awake and he runs riot! The only way we are surviving is him coming into our bed and we carry him back when he finally goes to sleep (10pm). We also have a 10 month old who wakes 3 times a night so this isn’t really sustainable. I really don’t know what to do…! Please offer any tips if you can. Thank you!

What time does he wake up? He sounds over tired to me although I'm no expert. I'd say divide and conquer - one of you stay with the 5yo and settle him in his room, the other goes on baby duty. We do this with our 3yo and 1yo as otherwise between them they'd have us up all night sometimes! I reckon if you do a few early nights, get the 5yo back in the routine of his bedroom and he gets more sleep, the issue may resolve.

I think you are going to have to be very very firm on this. You are the parent and do know best what is good for him regarding sleep. Tell him that no matter what he feels at this moment it is bedtime and he needs to be in bed. Then stay just outside his door and every time he gets out of bed, take him by the hand and put him back into bed. Don't engage more than to repeat 'It is bedtime and you have to be in bed.' Repeat, repeat, repeat, until he finally stays in bed. It will happen but it might take a week or so. Good luck.
You also might consider getting him to bed just a little earlier, as it could be that he is over tired and so finding it hard to settle.