My almost three year old is difficult with EVERYTHING, but getting her to stay in bed is the worst. Help!?

Question

Her and my 5 year old daughter share a room, we have no choice in that matter. She constantly is bugging her older sister. Also, if this is her terrible twos, then she was born at two. She has been difficult since birth and it's DEFINATELY not getting any easier. I also have a 10 month old son and that makes it more difficult. By the way I appreciate all the answers!

Answer 1

Your best defense plan is structure. Very strict routines is the only thing that will work, and you have to be consistent every time no matter what...at least for the first couple of weeks.

My 2 year old used to do the exact same thing. So now at 7:30 we start by taking a bath. Then by 8 its time for pajamas and a clean diaper. Between 8 and 8:30 we read a book, get a small glass of water, and brush teeth. He lays down, we say a prayer, he gets 1 hug, a couple of snuggles, and a kiss on the cheek.

If he gets out of bed we gently walk him back to bed without any attention or affection and say "Name, its time to go to sleep, good night." We say and do the same thing no matter if he's crying, tantruming or whatever. The important thing is not to get emotional about it. Just keep sending him back, over and over again, in the same way. For the first couple of nights there will be a struggle, but once she sees that its not going to affect anything she will stop. (sorry for all of the he's, I know you have a daughter...LOL..but its habit) Good luck, and god bless you, its gonna be a rough couple of nights, but I swear that it will pay off.

Answer 2

I agree with those who talked about the routine. Be firm and consistent and she will eventually learn. For your older child, leave her out of the room until her sister goes to sleep. Start the routine on a Friday, so you have two days before the oldest heads back to school. The first few nights will be the worst and you may need to rest alot on Saturday and Sunday. The routine will help her body to know it is time to go to sleep. You probably have fairly consistent bedtime routine, which helps your body to fall alseep and your daughter needs the same. My son was a difficult sleeper as an infant and at 8months I started a routine and now most nights he goes to bed without incident. My sons share a room so bed time is a challenge and I understand. As far as everything else, follow a fairly consistent routine throughout the day, give her time outs, when she tantrums, give her no attention, but check on her for safety. Praise her to death when she is good. Your daughter may want to always be the star and now as as good of time as any to help keep her star power in check.

Answer 3

Your child is going through the "Terrible Two" stage. It is tough. they can't reason as well at this age, but want desperately to be independent. It seems like on their 3rd birthday a beautiful miracle occurs. They are perfect little angles who can reason, listen and obey. And when you say get back to bed, they run giggling and jumping under the covers like little angels. You'll get through it. Your mom did. So you can too. I had 5 children of my own. 3 then I had twins. The first two were only 15 months apart. The 3rd came two years later. Then another two years the Twins were born. So believe me, I know you will get through this.

Addition to your additional detail:

I am so sorry you have this difficulty. My 2nd was hyper. I kept close watch on his sugar and sweets intake. Slowed him down a lot. I literally had to hide the sugar! And didn't allow sweets in the house. It was healthier for all of us any way. Instead of sweets we ate a lot of fruit for snack time and deserts. I hope this will help you out some. You might discuss this with your Pediatrician too.

Answer 4

Do you put the girls to bed at the same time? I find it is a lot easier to put the younger one down and get them to sleep and then the older one. Sometimes I have to so some rocking or back rubbing (which can be hard at times) but it seems to calm them down. Also a CD with classical music or kid songs can help calm the atmosphere!

Answer 5

Get a bedtime routine going. That way she will know what to expect and have limits set upon her. Tell her specifically in a matter of fact way what to expect and do not change your mind. Keep repeating yourself if you have to so she knows you are not going to change your mind .
There is no reason to threaten or punish her phyically if you are able to keep up the routine and she knows what is expected of her.
You may want to try to draw out a routine list for her and post it on the fridge. Little children are visual so use it to your advantage.

Answer 6

I put a gate up at the door and gave my child 3 "help me" cards.

I explained that he could call for me to help him with something but he had to stay in his room. Once his 3 cards were gone..then we couldn't help him anymore. This system worked well for us, but I know how challenging this time can be!

The key is to give as little attention as possible after you've tucked them in. If they keep getting up just walk them back to bed and say nothing!! It's a power struggle and attention getter...don't try to reason with them...you'll never win;)

Good luck!

Answer 7

Umm did you try put her in a car seat and set her on the drier with it on all night and some nights you can buy a rocking swing that rocks back and forth if you turn it on. Or you can try giving him or her some warm milk before him or her goes to bed and the baby should fall right to sleep!.

Answer 8

If you have a yard maybe you can play ball with her and get her exhausted then give her a warm but not hot bath to relax her. After that, you can prob put on a movie or something to get her to fall asleep then turn it off. I use to fall asleep in the living room with my parents waching tv then they'd carry me into my room.

Answer 9

As a preschool instructor and a mom of three, i will inform you that your little angel is merely sorting out the water. this is the perfect threat so which you would be able to "lay down the regulation" so which you would be able to desire to speak. the main severe factor you are able to desire to do is be sure what you sense is proper/unacceptable habit, % what the rewards/outcomes would be for those behaviors and carry on with IT precisely. (If this is puzzling for you, try sorting out the varieties of self-discipline that your son responds nicely to in college.) in many circumstances circumstances, i think of we concentration too lots on adverse behaviors. try shifting to "overly dramatic" advantageous reinforcement. for example, while your son does something you desire him to, like carry your hand, act like he merely gained the international sequence all with the help of himself! i'm speaking significant vocal compliment, stickers, advantages charts, you call it! you would be surprised at how merely one advantageous can deliver approximately many, many greater. the different factor that works wonders with many little ones is opposite psychology. "Oh no, there is not any way you are able to hold my hand crossing this highway, on the grounds which you're no longer 5. And in elementary terms huge young little ones, 5 12 months olds, be attentive to the thank you to try this sort of factor." If he's defiant (as my 2 a million/2 12 months old is), he will leap on the possibility to coach you incorrect! and ultimately. do no longer take his behaviors in my opinion. he's merely 3 and has this entire extensive international to be sure. Take a 2nd to work out issues with the aid of his eyes. you will possibly be stunned with the help of what you notice.

Answer 10

to get her to go to sleep keep her up during the day as much as you can then when it come to night she'll go to sleep.

to help her play word games and point out thing ask what color and shape they are.