Well.......... I don't know what happened but it's just plain ridiculous now. Bedtime in our house is such a nightmare lately!! The problem isn't only getting them to go to bed, the problem is also getting them to STAY in bed.
Andrew or I will say the word bedtime and the whining instantly starts. And don't even get me started on the "I'm thirstys." It's amazing to me how thirsty our kids become once they know it's time to go to bed!! They do all they can to lollygag around downstairs to avoid heading to bed. Once we finally manage to get the four of them in their rooms and in their beds, it's at least another hour or more before they are all asleep. The worst culprit of all is Mason. There have been many nights when it's past 10:30 and that kid is still sneaking downstairs and asking for a drink or saying he can't sleep. It's soooooo frustrating.....
Tanner has been joining in on the fun now as well. He's been climbing out of his crib for months now when he wakes up from naps, but at bedtime he has been good about staying in his crib and falling right to sleep. Now he thinks it's fun to climb out of bed at bedtime and either climb into bed with Taylor (they share a room) come back downstairs or go into his brothers' room to play toys. Of course then the rest of the kids are only too happy to get out of bed and come tell us that Tanner is out of bed. Andrew even took him to bed a few nights ago and all was quiet so I thought all the kids were in bed asleep. When I went upstairs later that night I found Tanner sound asleep at the foot of Mason's bed in a bent over position. Who knows how long he was there.
I really don't know what the remedy is. With all these nightly antics, bedtime is closer to 9:00 now and it's still 30-45 minutes past that before they are actually quieting down and falling asleep. I feel like we should start sending them up to bed at 7 so maybe they'll be asleep by 8:30 or 9!!
Anyone else have bedtime issues? Anyone else bothered by the number of times I used the word bed in this post as much as me?
6 comments:
We had the same problem a while back, now if kids don't go to bed when told it's earlier the next night, and then earlier still. When they go to bed cooperatively then the get to "stay up" not really stay up just going to bed and what time we want them too, they just think they are sating up late because it's later than the "early" bedtimes that they were having! Good luck!
We are sooo there right now too! Not sure why all of a sudden Ella decides she can't go to bed without coming out at least ten times. She used to be so good about sleeping! Good luck! Let me know if you find a solution.
ok. i was just at the doctor the other day because we are dealing with some issues with Max. One of his symptoms was insomnia. Literally up till midnight and then we would get frustrated...etc....etc. The doctor suggested an over the counter herb. (I know, a doctor said herb.) Melatonin. I was doubtful. We gave one to Max the first night. 30 minutes. Goner. The next night we asked if he wanted one, he said yes. He didn't even make it through story time. Then, it seemed a routine was forming, and his body was adjusting to that routine and he only asks for one when he is having trouble sleeping. I'm not one for drugging my kids, but it is an herb and we don't have to give it to him every night. There is just SUCH A HUGE change in him because he is calmly going to sleep, getting enough sleep, and feels rested when he wakes up. I realize your situation isn't quite like ours, but if you are desperate you could try it. The doc even said I could give Sam (2 years) half a tablet if I wanted. So, it's safe. We haven't given it to any of our other kids except Max, but if it was a crazy night with all four bouncing around and driving me crazy, I admit I might be tempted.
I think you are doing awesome! Can you say - my kids sleep with me? Now, who's the greatest parents of all? I am just thinking, I would do anything to have my kids go in their beds, in their rooms - but I don't and I'm too exhausted to fight and care about it now. Maybe later. :)
Thanks for sharing.
So sorry! It seems like it goes in cycles. You get them trained and then one of them wants to throw you off again.
I just read somewhere that if you turn off all the lights in the whole house and pretend you are going to sleep too (you might actually have to do it the first night- go get in your own bed) then the kids will realize they aren't missing any of the action. So just trick them for a few nights and see what happens! I don't know if it will work, but it's worth a shot!
I'm bad. My kids both have TV's in their room and fall asleep with them on. I'm going to screw them up anyway, I figure this way I have less headaches throughout the process! Just call me lazy & not creative...it won't hurt my feelings!
"Life is crazy enough. Why make it harder then it has to be?"
- Leslie Johnson
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