My 4yrs old daughter is stubborn about going to bed... any suggests how to make her bedtime more enjoyable?

Question

I have given her bath, read a story, say a prayer, given her cup of water, a doll beside her and yet she keeps refusing to sleep. I used to pretending that Im sleeping with her until shes alseep. SHe will be entering K-4 this fall, she needs to sleep on her own BUT HOW??????

My daughter is pretty active girl, my mom says I used to be like that when I was her age. She can stay awake for more than 18 hrs. Thats bad. Im seeking for resoureful answers. Thank you very much!!!!!

Answer 1

I have a 4 year old boy, and I went though the same thing with him, I used to lie on his bed with him until he fell asleep (which could be up to an hour sometimes!) It wasn't good, as I lost a lot of time for cleaning, washing up etc...

What we have done is started a little ritual. When he gets into bed, I give him a kiss and a hug and talk to him about what we've done that day. eg:

"I love you, I'm happy, you're happy, all your toys are going to sleep now. Today we saw a little baby bird learn to fly, you played with a balloon and we had a lovely time at the swimming pool. Now it's time to go to sleep so you can do lots more fun things tomorrow."

It all started when he asked me to put his toys to bed, and I talked to him about our day as I did this. It really works for us, and he tends to go off to sleep lovely after that.

I hope this helps! Good luck!

Answer 2

well, it could be she is not too tired. Dont' make her take a nap, and get some physical activities during the day. Also you may want to push back bed time by 1 hour.

Also, train her that even if she doesn't want to sleep, she needs to stay put in the bed. Just cannot get off. This takes A LOT of work and consistency. The best strategy is: for the first time for getting off the bed, you tellher what the consequence would be (take away some priviledge, tv show, etc). And for the next 10, 20 or 30 or more times that she gets off, just don't talk to her, no looking into her eyes, and put her back in to the bed, and leave right away.

Answer 3

You have to put her to bed and let her throw a fit. Even more to the point, you have to be strong and let her cry it out. Crying comes with the territory of raising a child. You are not being abusive, you are being a good parent.

Put her to bed, tell her a bed time story, then tell her, "mommy is going to her bed now, too." Your daughter will cry. You will not come in to "comfort" her because that's what she wants (as opposed to going to sleep). After a few nights of this--unfortunately--she will finally get the picture and start going to sleep on her own.

Don't worry. You can do it. You just have do endure hearing her cry--BUT DON'T CAVE IN. Your are doing the best thing for your daughter. In a sense, you're showing her that she can be a "big girl" and do this on her own--a skill she'll further develop into K-4.

Hope everything works out!

Answer 4

Make sure she doesn't watch TV, play video games or eat or drink anything with sugar or caffiene at least an hour or two before bed time. Maybe get her some storie tapes she can listen to while she is falling asleep. Whatever the case, just make sure the time before at at bedtime is calm and tranquil and not stimulating.

Answer 5

At night, I sit in the rocking chair in our living room and watch TV with him until he falls alseep. He is now 5 and will be entering kindergarden this fall. I think the rocking helps. Sometimes I sing to him. He always liked that. He loves being held by his mama.

Answer 6

Hair-tearing stuff, I know. Maybe she is active - but do you allow her to be too active before you start the bedtime routine? I let my son watch some TV before bedtime. But otherwise u need to stick to the routine, don't give in to her wishes (sleeping with her), and be firm and consistent.... you could try some discipline if she's being too loud/boisterous in her room - but if she's quiet in her room, then leave her to it. She'll fall asleep eventually - and as time goes on she may just fall asleep earlier.

Answer 7

thats easy read her some harry potter book maybe she get bored on your story and wait shes 4 years old you cannot leave her alone when shes sleeping shes still a baby she needs care its dangerous to leave her alone on bed try to get a nanny or maybe let someone else sleep with her maybe if she has a sister or any one who is a girl . and maybe watch her some cartoon show like a disney movie of mickey mouse before she goes to bed and also give her some chocolate young girls want to eat chocolate before going to bed okay thats all sorry i dont have anymore imformation to give cause i am a guy and guys has no knowledge on child care thanks

Answer 8

SHE DOESN'T SLEEP BECAUSE SHE IS NOT SLEEPY. WHY DON'T PARENTS UNDERSTAND THAT!!!!

YOU SEE FOR YOURSELF, WHAT ACTIVITIES THAT SHE DOES THE WHOLE DAY WHICH TIRE HER OUT. IF SHE IS NOT DOING ENOUGH PHYSICAL LABOUR, IF SHE IS NOT PLAYING A LOT, AND NOT GETTING TIRED, SHE WOULDN'T SLEEP.

IF SHE IS TIRED, SHE WON'T NEED ANY STORY, OR BATH, OR ANYTHING.

ALSO, GIVE HER A CUP OF LUKE WARM MILK BEFORE SLEEPING.

Answer 9

just stay with your daughter and talk to her, may be some stories or some interesting stuff, be there still she sleeps, dont get away when she is in half sleep......... when this continous for a week then she ll be used to this and wont be hesitant to go for sleep.

Answer 10

May be u can tell her that she is going to enjoy next morning as u'll take her to her favourite place or park some thing like that.