How do I get my boys (7 & 5) to go to bed and GO TO SLEEP at a descent hour?

Question

We can put them in the bed around 8 or so and it will be after 11 when they finally go to sleep. They lay there and talk and play. We usually end up spanking them before they will finally be still and go to sleep. Does anyone have any suggestions? Help please!

Answer 1

First, I think that the bond formed between siblings who share a room is huge! So at least you have that silver lining.

Ideas: take toys out of the room. Lights must remain off. Maybe you could get them flashlights and say they can stay on, but only for thirty minutes. Have a rule about whispering only, not loud noises.

Obviously the spanking does not work since you have to do it most nights. You should find a different punishment, or set up a reward system instead like if they are good at bedtime they get a star and after six stars they can get pizza or something.

Answer 2

Ahhh the fun ages.

Set a bed time. Half hour to an hour before bed time, go in and have/help them pick up toys...and get things ready for the next day. Then sit down and read them a story. My boys had 3 favorites.. 10 in a bed.... Love you forever.... and Theres a monster at the end of this book... BUT you must do them complete with voices.... Make sure that all potty breaks and drinks are done with.... Let them know that you will not tolerate them getting up... playing around etc...

It won't be easy.. believe me... Don't allow naps in the late afternoon... and fresh air in the early evening may help A LOT... if all else fails.. there is always benadryl.. or duct tape... ....

Above all else.. NO TV's in the bed room.... a sound machine will sometimes help also..

Good luck

Answer 3

depending if you work or not try putting them to bed earlier, and put the 5 year old to bed before the 7 year old my 5 year old is in bet at 630 pm every night it may take her an hour to go to sleep but she eventually does, try taking IE don't get takeaway one night or don't let them go to a friends house ban TV for 2 hrs on a weekend something that they really want to do or take one of their toys away, they will soon learn to go to sleep then you put the 7 year old to bed and tell him he has to be quiet so he doesn't wake his brother hope this helps
kids between 5 and 8 need around about 10 hrs sleep a night, this helps them develop some studies have shown that kids that don't get that amount of sleep, their IQ will be about 10 points lower than those that do the the right amount of sleep

Answer 4

Ok, we've had the same problem...Finally got it under control, however things might change when we put them in the same room (we're expecting baby #3 and we have to put the girls together). Here's what we do...

At 7 we start with baths and showers. By 7:30 the girls are bathed, teeth brushed and in jammies. My husband lays with our oldest (8 years old) while she reads to him. I lay with our youngest (4 years old) and read to her (usually a couple chapters of a Junie B. Jones book and one 'cartoon' book of her choice). At 8 pm sharp, lights out. I usually lay with Mia for a couple minutes after lights are out and then leave the room. If she stays in her bed w/out getting up for 10 min or so, I will lay with her again (at her request), but usually by that time, she's sound asleep. The oldest one will go straight to sleep after reading. I think the routine of going to bed the same time everynight and the relaxing effect of the reading is what does it. Things might change once they're in the same room and we have a baby to tend to, but we'll just have to come up with a new routine. Honestly, the fact that they're to bed and asleep at a decent hour has made our life much easier, especially in the mornings. When it's time to get up, the girls get up because they've had a good, full nights sleep.

I hope something I suggested works for you and I wish you the best of luck! I know what it's like to struggle with bedtime, but when I realized I was the problem (I'm not say that you're the problem, but in our case, it was laziness on my and my husband's part) I decided I was the one that had to change it!! So far it's worked, but ask me again in a few months. ;)

Answer 5

I had this problem a few months ago and then realized it was my fault! I let them stay up on some nights and other nights I would want them to get to bed on time and then I realized I had no routine that I stuck with! So i started being consistant and that meant getting ready for bed started at 6:30 after dinner. It goes Dinner, bath, read, and then lights out at 8:30. It took about 2 weeks but now its great! Don't change your routine for nothing for atleast a month!~ Good luck!

Answer 6

i went to a love and logic parenting class and the educator ran a foster home which kept 16 kids. his thought on it was this: tell the kids that they can go to bed at whatever time they want as long as they woke up in the morning and were not cranky throughout the day. most kids will LOVE this opportunity and I am sure that they may stay up all hours of the night on the first night. but they will feel the effects the next day, they will be very tired and miserable. it may take longer for some kids, but eventually it will sink in and they will go to bed to give themselves enough time to sleep. oh, and the other part to it is if they want to stay up, they have to be in their room and quiet so that you are not disturbed. there are many benefits to doing this, but the biggest one is that you wont get stressed out every night in the bed time battle. what is the point in making a huge deal about something when you can let them impose a consequence on themselves. you should look into a love and logic class, they offer some awesome and effective parenting techniques.

Answer 7

A routine is key. Start earlier. In our house (I have a three year old) when the clock says "6" that is dinner and playing time. "7" is bath, jammies, read books. "8" is lights out. Any messing around after that is lost privileges (tv watching, computer, favorite toys etc). Take out the lightbulbs if they won't leave the lights off. Have them "race" to see who can fall asleep first.

I am definitely trying the pennies idea!!!

Answer 8

Every night I tell mine "bedtime" they say "yes sir" they give out good night kisses to me ,and their mom , they tell each other good night and love you then hug each other, everyone in my house says this to everyone before bed time at 9:00 PM mine are 14,12,10,& 8 ..I had to start this at a young age , and had to set the example myself by doing this ,and going to bed as well . there were some problem nights a while back ,but the belt fixed it.
I have never negotiated with any of them over what I say or tell them to do ..if they want to make their own decisions or rules they had best turn 18 with their own house real quick until then I am responsible for them.and they know what I say goes ,I no longer have these problems , you have to make a believer out of your children or they will continue to push their limits, why is it taking three hours before the spanking ? mine lay down at 9 pm and by 9:30 they are out ...

Answer 9

do they have a tv if so turn it off they have these things at walmart that are room dividers it is cloth and hangs like a curtain try putting that up to keep them from talking and playin if that doesnt work bust theyer asses alittle earlier Im not saying to beat your kids but they need to know who the boss is and I like to play by a rule I call the rule of three 1st time its a request, 2nd time its a command , 3rd time I will deliver a swat

Answer 10

try having them lay down about 1 hr before you want them to go to sleep.. then if they wont fall asleep after 30 minutes then try to lay in there like u are going to go to sleep if it doesnt work then try getting a sleep aid... and when they fall asleep start getting them up earlier like at 7