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Original poster

Bedtimes are one of the worst parts of parenting

19 replies

serialplanner · 20/04/2023 21:11

Just a shameless moan about how annoying bedtime is. I wish you could just unplug your child at the end of a day and put them on charge. You give them all the energy in the day, take them to nice places and then the little buggers just won't go to sleep easily! So annoying.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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tescocreditcard · 20/04/2023 21:12

How old are they?

Whyjustwhy123 · 20/04/2023 21:16

Spot on OP.

Though my kids are older they still are a bugger to get to bed!

Which I find ironic as I am counting the minutes down till when I can get to bed.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 20/04/2023 21:20
  1. You can its called melatonin
  2. I would take bedtimes over weekday mornings hands down
StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 20/04/2023 21:22

*am being facetious. Don't medicate dc unless a Dr says to.

AnneLovesGilbert · 20/04/2023 21:25

How old?

The turn the switch off trick here was the rabbit who wanted to go to sleep book. Bedtime with a then 3 year old went from shenanigans to swift, efficient, cosy, happy parents and child.

I have no connection to the author or publisher, I got it second hand off eBay after seeing a recommendation on a Facebook group.

We have a very predictable routine that works the same with DH, my mum or me and it’s genuinely lovely now.

What’s going on?

dimpleton · 20/04/2023 21:38

You're not wrong. I still have ptsd from my DD's annoying bedtime performances that seemed to go on for bloody years....I need a drink/my duvet fell off/I'm hungry/lonely/itchy. Anything to stretch out the misery for as long as possible.

AceofPentacles · 20/04/2023 21:42

I had to lie next to my son every night until he was 11. 😖

Flittingaboutagain · 20/04/2023 21:43

I'm with you OP. Bedtime here is really hard and taking about two or even three hours in total.

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 20/04/2023 21:50

Horrific. 15yo with SEN still needs me at bedtime, which is now super late, and I'm always knackered. Sigh.

Tailfeather · 20/04/2023 21:53

I try to focus on the fact that one day he wont want me at bedtime and I'll look back at this time fondly...right...?!

AmyandPhilipfan · 20/04/2023 22:12

My husband's out tonight so thought I'd treat myself to a takeaway and my choice of TV. Just tucking in while my two older ones are fannying about upstairs going to bed, one decided to shut his door with a bang (I don't know how many times I've asked him to take care to close it quietly) and of course that's the 5 year old awake. So now my food's getting cold downstairs while I'm sitting next to her hoping she'll go back off quickly! Normally if she wakes in the evening (because of her pratting brother slamming his door!) I'll go up, she'll lie back down and she'll go straight to sleep. But of course not tonight!

Original poster
serialplanner · 20/04/2023 22:34

Sorry I should have said, she's 2. So yay to some of you feeling my pain with much older children :/

I mean all kids sleep is veriable right but overall as a baby she was a "good sleeper".

Since she started talking (16m) her sleep has gone crazy. We had a good routine and I could put her down and she would protest but always silent or asleep within 5 minutes so I could live with that.

Since turning two separation anxiety is through the roof so I'm lying on a bed in her room until she sleeps. Has been manageable but tonight I was in there for nearly an hour and I think at the end of the day you just feel like "fuck this shit!"

I know other people have much longer sleeping challenges but this is what I am used too. Puts me off another one tbh!

Appreciate the replies. Won't medicate her promise xx

OP posts:
Original poster
serialplanner · 20/04/2023 22:35

AmyandPhilipfan · 20/04/2023 22:12

My husband's out tonight so thought I'd treat myself to a takeaway and my choice of TV. Just tucking in while my two older ones are fannying about upstairs going to bed, one decided to shut his door with a bang (I don't know how many times I've asked him to take care to close it quietly) and of course that's the 5 year old awake. So now my food's getting cold downstairs while I'm sitting next to her hoping she'll go back off quickly! Normally if she wakes in the evening (because of her pratting brother slamming his door!) I'll go up, she'll lie back down and she'll go straight to sleep. But of course not tonight!

Sod's bloody law! Hope you got there in the end x

OP posts:
GloomySkies · 20/04/2023 22:36

That rabbit book worked a charm on dc2 but dc1 is, and has always been, completely impervious to any and all sleep aids.**

Original poster
serialplanner · 20/04/2023 22:41

AnneLovesGilbert · 20/04/2023 21:25

How old?

The turn the switch off trick here was the rabbit who wanted to go to sleep book. Bedtime with a then 3 year old went from shenanigans to swift, efficient, cosy, happy parents and child.

I have no connection to the author or publisher, I got it second hand off eBay after seeing a recommendation on a Facebook group.

We have a very predictable routine that works the same with DH, my mum or me and it’s genuinely lovely now.

What’s going on?

I've ordered the book! Thank you!

I think I need to get back to a good routine with a bit of moaning from her. I go through waves of wanting zero crying or being able to cope with a little bit if it makes the whole thing short and therefore sweeter for all. But with the separation anxiety it is more than a protest, she is upset so I have been staying with her. Not our usual style this whole time she has always gone down in her cot.

Really what needs to happen is she needs to stop napping as she'll be so tired she'll drop straight away (we have had a practice) but the little crazy can't quite cope without a nap but just a 20 minute nap will have her up late until 9pm. No time for yourself.

I'm droaning on now. I just can't believe this is my most annoying thing about parenting. You know when you laugh thinking you thought the birth was the hard bit!

OP posts:
Flittingaboutagain · 21/04/2023 06:16

I'm going to look into that book too OP. Last night in my parenting what's app we had a joke about how many of us spent at least some time 7-10pm lying in the dark (many on the floor!) pretending to be asleep with our kids. When the teenage years come we'll laugh about how easy all this stage was!

Lulu1919 · 21/04/2023 06:41

What is it you don't like ..
Mine had bath...pjs ....bedtime story on sofa in bedrooms ...bed
Ok there were days when they played up but in the whole they were tired and fell asleep ok

Original poster
serialplanner · 21/04/2023 06:58

Lulu1919 · 21/04/2023 06:41

What is it you don't like ..
Mine had bath...pjs ....bedtime story on sofa in bedrooms ...bed
Ok there were days when they played up but in the whole they were tired and fell asleep ok

It's nothing major! I just miss when she went down without us lying in the room about 7pm and I could have an hour or so to myself before getting ready for bed myself! In the toddler stage you spend so much time tiring them out that you are tired yourself! Post nursery I took her out today running and for dinner and so lying in her room for an hour was annoying! Just go to sleep!

OP posts:
Lcb123 · 21/04/2023 07:15

Well don’t lie in the room. Nice routine, in bed, then leave and shut the door. It will be horrible but she needs to learn to sleep alone

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