Three boys different ages in same room suddenly mucking about at bedtimes.

[gingeme]

I have a 5 year old 3 year old and 2 year old ds's and up till about 6 weeks ago they all had a story at 7pm lights out at 7.15 9 times out of 10 all asleep by 8pm. They share a room as we live in a 2 bedroom flat.
My 6 year old is in the top of bunk beds and always goes to sleep first. As soon as I have shut the door the three year old who is in his own toddlers bed gets up and turns the big light on giving the 2 year old the signal to get up and play. This went on for about 2 weeks with me going in talking to them, putting them back into bed, standing one in the corner to shouting at them. I think you catch my drift here.
Then I started reading their story in the front room then putting the 3 year old (the ring leader) to bed at 7, the 2 year old at 7.15 and after a drink of milk and another read of the story the 5 year old at 7.30. This has worked twice where they are all asleep by 8pm. Other than that the 2 and 3 year old are up and still playing till about 8.45- 9.30
The three year old is standing next to me now as I type this because I am trying another tactic and basicaly keeping him up till I got to bed. But he thinks this is great fun
Help, please, anyone?

You have my sympathy.
The only time my two shared a room was on holiday and it was a nightmare.Nothing worked.Threats, bribes, begging, shouting... nothing.
When they are a little older than 3 you can negotiate in advance. Sorry not much help.

My 5 yr old and 3 yr old DDs share a room. They both used to pass out almost immediately at 7pm, but then about 6 months ago that came to an end and they started running around and playing and winding each other up (started with playing and laughing etc ended in them crying and fighting as overtired (and me shouting) and often both up until 9.30pm. These days after stories DD1 (who is the one who stays awake longest) goes straight to our bedroom and gets into our bed with a small pile of books that she chooses before bath time. I leave a light on and she looks at books and fiddles around (with our bedroom door shut). DD2 then tends to go to sleep pretty quickly. At about 8pm / 8.30pm I take DD1 back through to her bed (sometimes she runs through herself earlier if she is tired or if I forget her she falls asleep and we carry her back). This works so much better for all of us. DH and I are not bothered by them, I no longer have harriden screaming fits, DD1 gets to stay up longer (which she likes) and DD2 gets to go straight to sleep (which she needs). Could you do this with your DS2?

My girls share and if they're kicking off my 3 year old will go to sleep in our room and be lifted through (in her sleep) when we go to bed. Could moving one to your room be a short term option?

Stagger bedtimes but also put the middle one to bed in another room - so put the youngest to bed at say 7, then put middle one to bed in spare room or your own bed at 7.15, then put eldest to bed in his own bed at 7.30 by which time youngest should be well asleep.

When eldest is asleep, move middle child (carry him through asleep if necessary) into boys' bedroom.

You could spread the times out even more if half an hour isn't enough time for the youngest to be asleep. Or just put the least troublesome two in the same room and carry the most troublesome one through when asleep!

Oh there we go, Xposted

Absolutely brill putting ds2 in my bed first cause that's where he has his daytime naps so I'm sure he will be happy with that and it's a tiny way to carry him if he falls asleep . Fantastic . Thanks ladys xx