Bedtime Battles with 2 1/2 Yr Old and 5 Yr Old

Divide and conquer!! :) For example:

8pm - you take your little one into his room, read for 10 minutes and lights out. He is asleep by 8:30.

8:15 - hubby takes 5 YO to quiet spot (your bedroom/a quiet corner of the couch/no TV on/ lights dim). Read for 15-20 minutes. Then it's to his room where the lights are out and little brother is sleeping.

Explain to them what to expect before you do this and and tell them this is the new rule. No exceptions.

A little bit of, "if you behave/listern/follow the rules you can each have 15 extra minutes at the playground" (or whatever) tomorrow will help, too.

Good luck!

My kids are the same ages, and have bunkbeds too. They go to sleep just fine when properly tired, but sometimes they are crazy monsters. If I need to I will sit just outside their door (usually with a book) so that they can see me and know I'm listening. I can sternly warn them "no talking, go to sleep" and that usually works quickly. One they're in a routine and tired, sleep should come much faster. And yes, I think the new bunkbeds are part of the problem. I too, don't like taking away stories for discipline. Instead, I would take away a toy or movie time in the morning. Good luck!

I wouldn't punish by spanking either. I think it will accelerate the problem. Can you make yourself fall asleep on demand..? I would agree w/ keeping story time and setting a rule - you just have to be quiet and keep lights low or out until you go to sleep. Then if the rule is broken, you can discipline by having consequences the next day. No TV, etc..

What are they doing for the hour while they're not sleeping? If they're being relatively calm or good, I would just sit outside the door and tell them "no talking, go to sleep" or whatever. I also think you could chose to ignore they're talking or playing or whatever. As long as they are each in their own bed you could let them go until they fall asleep. If they get out of bed, go put them back, but don't say a word to them and give them that attention. In time if you are consistent and don't reward bad behavior, they will learn that they go to beds to sleep!

Maybe offer a reward for when they do a good job with their routine. Either a special breakfast in the morning (if possible) or even if you took a trip to the dollar store and stocked up on a bunch of random and cheap incentives. I know for my daughter who is only 19 months it works when we are having a hard time getting her to sleep for a nap if we discuss something fun that we can do when she gets up, but that she has to go to sleep first. I think shes a bit too young for actual rewards but the discussion of something fun actually works for us because as soon as she gets up from a nap thats the first thing she will talk about. If you choose to go the other route and not reward but discipline maybe threaten to take something away that you know they enjoy for the entire day following the behavior
Good Luck (bedtime is really tough because by that time, as parents we are just worn out and NEED a little break and then your patience wear out really quickly)