Wouldn't it be nice if our DC would give pre-warning that they were oing to be waking up during the night, because then...

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I would go to bed a lot bloody earlier.... !

DH and I had a lot of fun with ds last night as he woke up in the early hours shouting for us and saying he wanted to sleep in our bed. I cannot let him as I am having trouble sleeping as it is (33 weeks pg) and ds kicks like a mule. Aside from that we don't want a regression to co-sleeping from ds when a new baby is imminent.

But he would not give up I couldn't keep going to him as my pelvis falls apart (in a manner of speaking)at night, after lying down for any period of time and walking is difficult. DH did go in as well but after a while we had to let him yell it out - ds sounded outraged rather than distressed. I have no idea when he stopped shouting but I'm a wreck today.... sigh.

Any tips on convincing 4 yos that their bed is lovely and much better than Mum and Dads?

Duck tape?

No idea but when you find the answer let me know as DD1 (3.11) still tries to sneak in every night, sadly we should have tackled it alot earlier, as if we let her scream it out she then wakes dd2 (19months) and then she thinks its getting up time

Strangely dd2 has never liked sleeping in our bed and happily concks out in hers from 6.30pm to 6am!

Sorry you are having problems as well eandh.

I am very glad that ds calling out did not wake dd - as she is 2 and has only been in her own room a couple of months but is doing brilliantly. She sneaks into bed with us at 6-6.30am most mornings but does so quietly without fuss and therefore we do not wake. Ergo no problem. Of course that my be different when dd2 arrives

Very tempted to duct tape his mouth and tie ds to bed but that probably isn't a long term answer

I hve said this before but I really think there is a market for velcro sheets, velcro pj's and velcro duvets.

Then we could sandwich the little buggers into bed and they can't get out!!

We had this same problem with DD while I was pregnant and we resorted to serious bribery. For every night she stayed in bed she got a book. It took a couple of weeks but she stays in her bed now (8m later), and has every f***g Thomas the tank engine book written (that is a whole other issue!!).

superloopy - I love the fact that neither of the dd's like Thomas, read a few books to my nephew and I found them so dull

Velcro sheets/pj's wouldnt unfortunaltey keep her mouth shut maybe soundproofing her room may work

How about a full faced motorcycle helmet??

Oh I have used reward charts for ds but they are only effective for a finite period - but that is a good idea - anything dinosaur related will motivate ds at the moment.

Maybe I will get him to make chart with me this afternoon - while I lounge on my bed yawning... Still he starts school next week so that should tire him out enough to sleep well at night [fingers crossed].