How can I get kids to settle down at night?

Question

I have 2 children , 4yrs and 2yrs. They used to go to sleep when they were put to bed, but for the past couple of months they just seem to be hyperactive and wont settle they have nonsense like jumping in their beds and laughing. I try playing classical music in their room to settle them down. I don't shout at them but i find myself going up the stair to put them back in their beds, this goes on for hours. Even if I ignore them and don't go up at all they are still up having nonsense, what can I do to just get them to settle down ?

Answer 1

Start "calming" the house down after dinner.

After dinner the tv goes off or is turned down at least, the kids play quit games like puzzles or stuffed animals, then bathtime, put in jammies, read a story, and lay down for bed.

You can't just have kids running around all night and then expect them to just lay down and fall asleep. You have to slow things down so they will slow down with it.

Answer 2

strangely enough my two year old has been playing up for the last couple of nights as well!! I have found reading her a story and having the final cuddle on her bed seems to have settled her tonight! As you have two, perhaps you should stagger their bed times and take the little one first, cuddle and settle, and then read a story to the older one in the lounge. When its time for bed, tell the 4 year old what a big girl/boy he/she is and that we must be quiet now as little one is asleep. I think being rainy weather etc, they are not burning off as much energy as they do in summer,and I found a long walk today definately help mine. Perhaps once you have given them the final cuddle goodnight, and they get up to nonsense, just put them back into bed, without any communication at all. They will soon get bored .... good luck!!

Answer 3

They are clearly still over excited and craving for your attention. When they are in bed, read them stories, there are some great ones around and do all the voices if you can. They'll love that and will lie still to listen. Sooner or later their eyelids will droop from the sound of your pleasant voice and the comfortable feeling it gives them from having you close. Then you can say gently that it's time for them to sleep and kiss them goodnight, stroking their forehead or whatever.
Get into a routine like that and it should calm them enough to do settle down.
Of course it won't work every time, but it's sure better than anything else I know and they'll remember those times as precious when they've grown up - as indeed will you.

Answer 4

First, be sure they're not getting any caffeine or sugar within 4-6 hours of bedtime. Then, have an evening routine starting with a long walk after dinner, which will help them get out some of that energy. A warm bath or shower should follow, then read them up to 3 stories (they can choose). Then it's lights out. This has to be consistent every night (special occasions excepting). You will have to remain stern with them and force that boundary. I wouldn't talk to them if I have to go back upstairs, I would silently and without any reaction put them back to bed. Good luck!

Answer 5

have you tried putting them to bed separate, I had this with my 4 n 2 yr old girls i used to put eldest 1 down then little 1 half an hour later this worked for a while but now they go to bed together with a DVD!!! also if there has been a change in there routine about the same time they started this it could be due to that try n stick to the same thing Evey night, T-Bath-Bed-Story or DVD in my case ha ha

Answer 6

Start a routine were quite acttivties are right befor bed time. Also if something different has happened resently like a move or any change from the normal it will take time for them to reajust and go back to naormal. I put on a ball room dance cd for my son to watch befor bed and he will either fall asleep watching or be tired enough for bed.

Answer 7

I have three kids ages 3,5 and 7. The two oldest started the hyper activity at bedtime at about the same ages. I usually seperated one to my bed when they got too out of control. Neither one liked being alone so they settled down easier after a few weeks of nightly seperation. ( I always carried the one in my bed back to their own after they fell asleep) And now we still have days that are like a giant slumber party but on the whole they go to bed a bit easier.

Answer 8

You have to let them know it is not fun time it is time to sleep.....

Try to cut out certain foods before bed, no sweet stuff, or drinks with sugar in, I found orange squash is a big no no, my son used to say my head wants to go to sleep but my body doesn't lol

Just be firm say no bed, even have a star chart and if they get all 7 stars a week they get something special, if one gets it and the other doesn't it will soon sort them out

You will probably find its one waking the other up, just be firm and consistent

good luck xxx

Answer 9

Re-establish srong bedtime routine.
Here goes: Family dinner, games & play. Park if they need wearing out.
Quiet play, eg play dough,colouring etc while you run relaxing bath -2 drops lavender essential oil or johnson & johnson sleepeasy bath.
Nice bath, quiet lighting when they get out-lamps only, no bright overheads, t.v etc. (While we're on this I would also say that classical music makes my kids run around pretending to be ballerinas etc so even if you can't stand it -like me -Dido first album sent my youngest out like a light.)
So, out of bath, all nice and calm. Story,cuddles, and off to bed. I sent my 2 and 4 year old (we have about same gap I would say) at the same time.
So supernanny here we go : on the first time of getting up- pick them up/return to bed saying once, it's bedtime kids/sweeties/etc.
Second you say firmly but calmly, it's bedtime. No eye contact or further comments. As soon as you engage they take it as permission to carry on.
If they get out of bed you pick them up and put them back in.
This is harder for you as you have two doing this but you may find the eldest is your ringleader and the little one just goes along with it and will respond quicker to this technique.
On any further times of rising you say nothing, just keep returning them to bed.
If this is technique you're using and it's not working, think about who is instigating this and why. Maybe you can send little one up first and then 4 year old half hour later.
Also my kids responded well to the naughty bedtime box ( not at two though-bit too young to grasp concept)
In the morning after a bad night you take a toy and put it in lidded stacker box-transparent so they can see your collection build!
As you can see bad bedtimes were my life but a combo of all these things worked. Still not perfect but at least there are consequences for their behaviour now.
Best of Luck!
Actually-total after thought-it's nearly christmas-could that be it?

Answer 10

You have to create a routine. Have a goal of getting them to bed by 8:30 or so. Give them a bath an hour before your set goal time, give them warm milk and make them brush their teeth.

This indicates to them that it is time to wind down. You have to be consistent, and if one day they run over your desired time, no (yelling or punishing).

While they are taking a bath, make it your own special time with them by asking how school, daycare was. This gets them off guard and mentally tired because they have to re-cap and think of all the day's exciting events.

GOOD LUCK!!!!, remember CONSISTENCY.

Answer 11

Well i would read to them before they go to bed. Reading to kids always helps them settle down! I would maybe also give then a warm bath! There is this bubble bath that is by Johnasin-Johnasin it is lavendar scented and it helps calm kids down! Then put them in bed and maybe rub their backs or play with there hair, that would probably relax them to!