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21 month old bedtime routine help

3 replies

PurplePetalPip · 28/05/2023 21:42

Can you tell me about your toddler's bedtime routine please? We currently go upstairs about 90 mins before bed, play for half an hour then have a bath. After that's it's into the bedroom, change into pyjamas, dim lights and have a breastfeed and books.

The last bit can drag on for an hour though with DS playing up. And it doesn't matter what time he goes to bed. On a good night he'll just keep asking for one more book until he accepts it's time for bed. Other nights he wonders over to his shelves and tries to start playing with toys (we've never played after bath) or he starts getting distressed and if you try reading a book he climbs down and wants a different book but then won't let you read that book either and you end up going round in circles with him getting upset - I think at this stage he is tired and resisting bedtime.

If I try and enforce bedtime he gets upset and I don't want to put him to bed upset. So we just keep going until he eventually gives in and points to his cot.

He's still in a cot which I don't want to change yet. Once in his cot he rolls over and goes to sleep independently ok.

Any tips on how to speed up bedtime? I'm happy to read a few books but an hour seems excessive and I'm shattered by this point in the day!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
SeaToSki · 28/05/2023 21:45

You are probably going to have to grimace through a bit of upset to set up a routine.

i would do one book and if he doesnt want it he cant pick another one.

then pop into his crib, sing a good night song and out the door. The more you hang around, the more he will try and fight going to sleep.

PurplePetalPip · 29/05/2023 21:46

Thank you @SeaToSki. That's probably what I needed to hear. Tonight was the usual antics until I said no more and put him in his crib and left. He did fuss for a couple of minutes but then went to sleep. I'll implement a one book rule from now on so he knows the routine and that there is never one more book.

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SeaToSki · 29/05/2023 22:07

Nice…just hang on to this when he hits the ‘terrible twos’ and the ‘oh my god Im going to throttle you threes’…you give an inch and they take a mile, they are contrary just for the sake of it and if you think you are on top of parenting them..they move into a different phase and throw you for a loop again 🤣

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