Or she gets up over and over. Her Mom and Dad recently seperated but bedtime has always been an issue. Any suggestions for my daughter to help make bedtime easier and pleasant instead of a fight? She also has an month old son so can't always "snuggle" to get the three year old to settle. Last night I sat outside the 3 year olds door and read. She settled right away and only asked once if I was there. Any ideas would be appreciated loads.
2007-05-12 15:43:54 · 9 answers · asked by june.johnston 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
oh! The bed-time battle! It's very common in children that age, some good ideas are develop a routine (ex. take a bath, clean teeth, read a short story or book and go to sleep) so she knows what to expect and prepare mentally for bed time. Ignore protest and try to keep interaction to a minimum while she is in bed, if she is very used to sleep with someone try making distance slowly, like put her to bed and sit in a chair nearby when she can look at you, stay there quiet until she sleep, every night move the chair a little further away from her bed until you are out of the room, if she wakes up and cry or scream just gently remind her that you are nearby and quietly return her to bed.
2007-05-12 16:04:23 · answer #1 · answered by California 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When I first moved my daughter from a crib to a toddler bed, i had the same problem! Here's what I did:
I started a specific routine. Dinner, bath, story, bed. After lights out, I sat in her room at the foot of the bed and just looked down at the floor. The second she got up, I layed her back in bed without making eye contact or saying a word. Then went right back to position a! I repeated this until she fell asleep. It usually took about ten minutes. Then after a few days, there was no problem. I understand about the baby because my daughter was two weeks shy of turning two when my son was born, so it can be rough. I would suggest trying to have the newborn asleep during the time that you plan to put the 3 year old to bed, this can be hard to plan, and if the baby wakes up, and doesn't really need immediate attention, let him cry a bit...because once the 3 yr old is asleep, you can care for the baby as long as needed. (of course check on him if you think he needs to eat or needs a diaper changed!) You may even be able to hold the baby and feed it in the room on the floor and accomplish two things at once!
2007-05-13 01:36:04 · answer #2 · answered by trehuginhipee 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's a good thing that the mom can't "snuggle" anymore, because that's what caused the behavior issue in the first place. She didn't give you a hard time because she knew that you wouldn't give in to her. Mom's got to step up and be the parent here. She needs to get firm about bedtime now while the child is still young enough. Mom should inform the child that if she goes to bed like a good girl, there will be a reward the next day. If she doesn't go to bed like she's supposed to, there will have to be consequences. I know it sounds harsh, but this is how we all were taught. Children, even though they may not say so, need and want rules and set guidelines.
2007-05-12 22:54:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever seen the show supernanny? It would help you out alot.
- You can try turning on a night light and setting up a very calm enviroment before your grandaughter goes to bed. Put her in bed and quietly read her a story. Ater that turn on some soft lullaby music and it will probally put her to sleep. Quietly leave her in the room. If she gets out of bed, simply take her by the hand and say to her "It's time for bed hunny". Be consistant. It's all about consisatncy. Soon she will under stand that she has to go to bed and will eventually give up on getting up every night. Make sure you make bedtime a calm thing and not stressfull. Let her pick out a book to read and make her feel comfortable.
good luck.
2007-05-12 23:03:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I read to my little girl everynight, I put her down around the same time. And after I get done reading, I tell her that i love her very much and I will see her in the morning and sweetdreams. when we started this, she would get up, but the trick is not to make a big deal of it, take her by the hand and lead her back to bed, but let her get in by herself. I hope you figure out something. Good luck.
2007-05-13 00:16:59 · answer #5 · answered by ravensgirl2k6 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just be consistent. Keep putting her back in her bed and don't try to comfort her when she gets up because thats just rewarding it. I used to have the same problem with my son. We also put music in his room now for him to fall asleep to and he does great. No more arguments because he knows if he gets up hes going to get picked up and put back to bed.
2007-05-12 23:16:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try this book. my daughter suffered with night terrors until she was 4 and a half. Her doctor recommended this book, "Solve your childs sleep problems" (somethimg like that,) here's the link.
2007-05-12 23:14:53 · answer #7 · answered by CHICK 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she is at that age where you just have to put her in bed and keep putting her to bed and mabe develop a routine, what i do with my daugther is i give her a bath, let her brush her teeth and put her to bed at 8pm, she does try and get out and I just keep putting her back in all you can really do at that age :(
2007-05-12 22:54:02 · answer #8 · answered by momof2girls and now a boy :) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No doubt her demons are as real to her as the chair you're sitting on is to you. Be gentle and understanding. Time heals all wounds.
2007-05-12 22:53:48 · answer #9 · answered by jsardi56 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋