My son is spending the weekend with me, and it's way past his bedtime. He's so hyper that I can put him in bed but he only stays there a for a few minutes and then gets up and says he's not tired. I realize that he may not be tired, but he needs to go to bed. I'm getting quite exasperated, what do you suggest. I've tried bedtime stories, a warm bath, milk, laying in there with him, and it's not working. He's also 6 if that means anything.
2006-09-08 17:48:50 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Uh, no. I am not going to spank my kid. I've never had to before, so why start now?
2006-09-08 17:54:46 · update #1
It's a sugar. His mother fed him a ton of sugar before she dropped him off at my house.
2006-09-08 18:03:34 · update #2
Sugar high. Sorry.
2006-09-08 18:03:53 · update #3
If your son only stays over with you occasionaly then allowing him to stay up late to work off the 'sugar high' is not going to do him much harm. If he comes to you regularly at the weekend then it is important that you set up a bedtime routine that you stick with. The most important thing is to keep bedtime calm. Don't allow your frustration with what his mother is doing interfere with your relationship with your son. Have a special cushion or something soft that you can thump, batter or kick, to release any anger that you are feeling, it works wonders, but do it out of sight of your son, or you might add to the bedtime problems!
Children need routine and you need to know his routine when he is with his mother. He could be missing something that he associates with sleep, like a comfort blanket or teddy bear which he may have been told is too 'babyish' to bring to daddy's. If he comes to you late on a Friday evening, then the bedtime could be a bit later to allow him to adjust and spend time with you. Wake him at the usual time on Saturday morning, if he has not woken himself, so that he will be tired enough to sleep that night. He should know in advance that Saturday bedtime is different. Look out for when he starts to get tired and get him to bed before he starts to get a second wind. Keep lights dim in the evening as bedtime approaches, light helps signal the brain into the right wake-sleep cycle.
Research has shown that watching TV, computers and video games is linked to sleep problems especially if the TV set is in the child’s bedroom. A routine that is relaxing and calm is best. If he comes out of the bedroom, just return him calmly and spend a couple of minutes with him. Do this as many times as it takes, spending a shorter time with him each time. If you can remain calm, he will soon get the message that coming out of bed doesn't work and he will settle into a routine. It's very painful for you at the beginning, but it will prevent months or even years of further problems.
Most of all keep in mind that even though now, the troubles at bedtimes seem to be never ending, your son will grow up all too fast, so treasure every moment with him, even the 'bad' ones.
2006-09-09 04:25:13 · answer #1 · answered by alpha 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God be with you on this one, my son is also 6 and he doesn't like the dark and always "has to have" a nightlight as well as the tv on. Don't ask why, when he was a baby he needed it quiet and dark. Now all the sudden he needs his tv. Pop in a movie even if you have a tv and vcr/dvd player in there. NO NO spanking don't listen to these people I feel the same you do. I never spank it doesn't get you anywhere and only teaches kids that it's okay to hit and it's not. You're son is just having a little bit of an issue getting to bed because he's hyped up. He'll get calmed down and quiet one way or another! Heck sit in the front room, cuddle up and watch a movie together, they love it. He'll go right to sleep!
gal_exe is it? You seriously need to control some anger if you are spanking your 3 yr/o omg. What a nut. Not to mention everybody needs advice don't care who ya are, everybody needs some advice even I do and I have 2 kids to raise. It is not easy to do and if it is for any of these people, I hate to say it but they're doing something WRONG!
2006-09-09 01:13:23 · answer #2 · answered by Tammy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your ex is evil. :) Sorry, but it sounds like your son has a serious reaction to sugar and he'll need to get it out of his system. Maybe you can get him to play quietly in his room or read a book or something. Anything that requires him to stay pretty still and quiet.
Your next step should be talking (nicely) to your ex about how the sugar seemed to effect him. It's not healthy for him and is really cruel to him, not just you. Whatever you do, don't return the favor by giving him crap before he goes home. It will only escalate the situation with your little boy in the middle.
If you have some soft music you can try playing that at a low volume for him. However, most likely you'll be dealing with hyper boy until he crashes.
Sorry hun. Good for you for spending time with him and trying to get him calmed down. And if you feel ready to lose it, give yourself a timeout and tell your son that's what your doing. They usually find it quite funny to think of mom or dad in time out. LOL
2006-09-09 03:21:16 · answer #3 · answered by DJ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its tough but doable. Usually takes 3 nights maybe 4 and its really hard on you as a parent.
You organise bedtinme well in advance so he knows its comming, then everytime he gets up or cries you put him back firmly with no discussion or cuddles.
this might mean 20 times :) ( told you its tough ). He will cry he will do anything to get your attention but don't relent if you do , it just means making the process longer and harder.
eventually he will drop but you will have to do this for 3 nights maybe 4 before he realises that this is bed time and thats it !!!
good luck .
2006-09-09 01:08:18 · answer #4 · answered by jennie f 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kids will only go to bed if they are sleepy. Try getting him to do something that'll tire him out like playing soccer outside, or running around the park. Also, movies tend to make kids sleepy considering they just sit there and watch the movie. While he's watching the movie give him something like warm milk. It's not with sugar so it's sure to at least be healthy for him and might make him sleepy too. =)
2006-09-09 01:48:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A glass of warm milk helps. Tommorow take him to the park in the late afternoon/early evening to tire him out, give him a bath and voila...you wont have this problem tommorow night.
2006-09-09 01:17:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i know what will work! i have a little neice and this will do the trick if you are willing to let him use ur computer, either use windows media player to play classical music and have him watch the
beautiful mesmorizing visualizations in the dark if thats okay with him. If he knows how to use the mouse (my 5 yr old neice learned really fast in a few minutes ) then go find a fun website for them like
elmo's world and have them use the mouse to color or anything else they have there http://www.sesameworkshop.org/sesamestreet/elmosworld/
if he wont watch the visualizations just let him watch it with you and entice him by saying " WOW! BEAUTIFUL OH M Y GOSH
LOOK AT THIS " bobby" it HAS to work :)
2006-09-09 00:59:15 · answer #7 · answered by Holly 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
maybe he can't sleep b/c he's scared of your yahoo photo?
J.K.
I have a 4 year old and we have the hardest time getting him to bed. We resorted to movies, which backfires at times still as he gets out of bed and plays toys.
You mentioned him spending the weekend with you.... so if this is not his normal routine, that could explain some of the relunctance...and therefore make me NOT suggest discipline.
I would suggest no nap tomorrow!!
2006-09-09 00:54:26 · answer #8 · answered by smiley_girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try talking to him. Ask him what is he thinking about that he can't go to sleep.
Do you know what his regular bedtime is at his Mom's?
Maybe he is missing her but he doesn't want to say.
Maybe he is trying you to see how long you will let him stay up or keep getting up.
If he is persistant, I say let him stay up until you go to bed and in the morning get him up early and keep him up all day, bet he will go to bed early tomorrow night.
Good Luck
2006-09-09 01:09:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to bed yourself, turn off all the lights in the house, and if he gets up...pretend that youre asleep.
2006-09-09 00:55:55 · answer #10 · answered by Maggie Mae 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋