Ideas for putting a three year old to bed!!!?

Question

My 3 year old will be great up until bedtime. We do our "routine" (brush teeth, sing songs, say prayers, etc...) and all is well until it's time for us to leave the room. That's when it begins... hours of "I need to go potty" "I'm scared" "I need another kiss." I might go in a few times to soothe her, but when enough is enough she will scream for hours. Normally she is pretty well behaved and doesn't have too many tantrums. I try to let her just cry until she falls asleep, but she doesn't stay in her room and it goes on for literally hours on end. I have tried offering rewards when she does well and punishments in the form of a quick spank or taking away a treat the following day. I am desperate as I am 35 weeks pregnant and need to rest at night!!! Any ideas for a desperate mother? (Please keep it nice)

Answer 1

I had the same problem just a few weeks ago...my daughter had always slept with us since she was born..then we would lay with her til she fell asleep..well I finally got sick of falling asleep in her bed so, we decided it's time for her to do it on her own...we do the nightly routine, bath, read a book, pray, kisses and hugs then lights out. I do leave a night light on for her...and I leave a cup of water and a piece of cheese on her nightstand. The first few nights we did this...she screamed her head off but eventually went to sleep...the next few nights she just kept getting up but we were firm with her...the only way we would respond to her was by saying Go To Bed....its Night Night Time...and then we'd ignore her...I know that sounds cruel..but we only had to do it for a few nights...and now she goes to bed without any problems...

Answer 2

One thing we did with our child was to make sure she had no fear of the dark. When our child is sleepy, she will simply go into the room and go to sleep, no nightlight or anything. Just needs a goodnight kiss from mommy and daddy. I don't think letting her cry to sleep is a good idea and I am a firm believer that a child's behavior is not corrected by spanking. Have you tried to stay with her until she falls asleep? I know it is probably very hard being 35 weeks in, but imagine how much harder it will be with a newborn keeping you up at night as well. >_< Perhaps there are certain songs that might have been played to your daughter while in the womb and as an infant that she might lull her to sleep? Maybe rituals like song singing should be cut out before bedtime as they might be taken as funtime that she wants continued?

Answer 3

I feel for you. I, however am blessed with a 3 year old that goes to bed at his bedtime. For the 1st year and a half, it wasn't like that though. What i see that works is, make sure your 3 year old is NOT taking a nap in the daytime. Have a set bedtime every single night. I have a litle latch on the outside of the door that I lock once I put my son to sleep. Keeps him in his room. After he realizied that the door wasn't going to open, he went right to his bed and to sleep. Only took about 5 times of him doing that. That is the only thing I tried and it worked, so I cannot give you any other advice as far as that. I hope it helps and congrats on the new baby!

Answer 4

We did a "sleeping chart" where our girls got a smiley face or a frowny face. If they went to bed nicely and slept all night they would get a smile, otherwise a frown. At the end of some period of time, (we did 7 days) they could do something fun.
We only had to do that for about 2 months before we started forgetting to mark it and then finally took it down.
I would say to let her "cry it out" She is definately old enough to do it on her own.

Answer 5

i'd reccommed being firm with her tell her to go to bed then if she doesn't you go to sleep let her scream and run around the house whatever she'll fall asleep on her own the you wake her up early the next morning and do a bunch of activities don't let her take a nap or sleep in the car anything make sure she stays awake then you do normal stuff at night (make it last lnger than usual tell her to brush her teeth again make her pray for a long time and then blare rock music) tell her to go to bed and she will, this may happen a couple times but after awhile she'll understand that when you tell her to go to bed she needs to go to bed.

Answer 6

Try something super nanny style. Sit in room on bed, then leave (to go to toilet) slowly work your way out of room.Sit on floor then at the door. Don't talk to her, just sit quietly. No eye contact. I hope this helps. With my oldest when I was pregnant with number 2, he was the same. I use to let him fall asleep on couch then I would put him to bed. Not the best solution in all situations, but is easier at this time in pregnancy. He is now 5 and goes to bed well, needs light on until asleep, but goes to bed well.
GOOD LUCK

Answer 7

I have a two year old and a four year old and all i have ever done is after doing all the good things b4 bed then go tuck them in give them kisses turn night lights on and walk out i go back in there only one time and i let them know that it is their last chance and if they dont go to bed i will spank them or take one of their fav. toys away

Answer 8

Greetings!

As you already know, a three year old is a burst of energy. More likely than not, your child is simply not tired.
I would suggest doing something after dinner outside which would require her to become tired.
It may take a couple of days to kick in but rest assured (isn't that what you need) she will get into a routine of being tired and welcoming her sleep.

Good Luck

Answer 9

maybe you should give her a long warm bath and let her play in the water for a lil while, that works with my lil ones, i have a 3 yr old and a 2 yr old. then when it's time to take her to her bed sit with her until she falls asleep, (i actually saw that on that nanny show) but the key is to ignore her and make sure she stays in her bed don't talk to her, letting her cry it out alone isn't a good idea she's looking for reassurance that your gonna be there, and letting her down isn't good for her confidence.

Answer 10

Have you talked to her while she is laying in her bed about what she is thinking about or she thinks will happen if you or when you leave her room. Do you leave the light on? Kids have a very keen sence of things that us adults are already programed to ignore. Sometimes they see and hear ect. things that we don't. check it out I'm sure you will be astonished.