Cant Get My Son to Go to Bed

D., I as well know how you feel. My son wouldn't go to sleep until 12 or 1. When he was about 16 months, we finally started putting him to bed at 10, even if he wasn't ready to go to sleep. The first couple nights he cried, but we kept the door closed and didn't go in (oh it was so hard!). After a week, he got used to it and now he goes to bed at the same time every night, and not a peep comes from him.

i used soft music and a night light. from birth and now at age 9.

We would let our little girl sit up in bed and look at books for about 5-10 minutes and then we would remove the books and she would settle down and go to sleep. there shouldn't be a fight to get them to go to bed, he might be sleeping too much during the day and is just not sleepy when you need him to go to bed. If he is in daycare find out how late he is sleeping and how often he takes naps, if he is at home he shouldn't be naping after I would say 2pm. I had the same problem with my little girl too, and the daycare was letting her sleep til 3 or 3:30 and so when 8:30 came around for bed she was wide awake. So maybe that is the problem and it can easily be fixed.

The only advice I can offer is to develop a routine and to stick with it. Give him a bath, then read him a book, kiss him good night and that means bed time. Eventually he will learn the routine and know what to expect. It has been a while since I have had a little one, however. Does he fight sleep, or does he wake up often, or not go to sleep at all?

Hey you and me both. My 2.5 year old is the same way right now. Not fun. Sorry I don't know what to tell you to do. Good luck!

Hi I am new to the site, but I believe I can help. I have 2 kids both of which had issues with sleep. My oldest would sleep but not alone till he was 2. My youngest is 2 and untill a month ago didn't sleep very well or go to sleep easy. I finally had enough and talked to a few doctors, and friends. They all said the same thing it might sound mean but it works They told me to make sure they are not hungry, not thirsty, and have clean pants. Say it is bed time, I love you. HUg and kiss him put im in the crib, making sure that there is nothing in there to hurt hum, then turn out the lights and shut the door and let him cry. As it is right now he probably cries and you go running and that is wat he wants he shows him that he doesn't have to do what you say. And all he wants is the attention they told me to walk in the room 5 min after he has been crying and pat him on the back and tell good night go to sleep I love you, then walk out and stay out. I went through that for about 3 days after that when I put him in his bed he goes to sleep with no fuss.

buy the book "No Cry Sleep Solution"... it addresses toddlers as well... we owe that book ALOT!

Start a bedtime ritual with him. I know it sounds corny but try reading stories, playing at bath-time or dessert time, plus always keep it on schedule if you can. Let him know that if he gets up there is trouble ahead and stand by your discipline. It will not happen overnight but you have to show your child that you are the adult and this is just one of many battles he will wage. Keep at it and you can use the same technique in other areas as well.

Hi D.. I know how you feel in the evenings...it stresses you out! I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and we were having the same problem with her. I do not know what your daily routine is but our problem was that we were letting her go to bed when we went (10-11) and napping anywhere between 2 & 4. She was not sleeping good and never wanted to go to sleep! One morning I got her up at 7:30 and by 12 she was ready for a nap. I only let her sleep an hour and a half at the longest. That night by 8 she was ready to go to bed. We have just tried to keep her in that schedule even though it varies sometimes by about an hour but we no longer have any problems with her in that area. She also sleeps MUCH better during the night.
Good luck and I let us know how it turns out.
C.

My daughter didnt sleep in her own bed until she was 2 1/2 years old. The only advice that i can give you is put him in a nice quiet room, get him some music and let him cry himself to sleep if he has to. Thats really the only way you can do it. I feel your pain thought. This can be a very tough thing. I hope you manage to find what you need to get him to go to sleep at night.

We used the Ferber method at 10 months on our first son and he sleeps ALL THROUGH the night now ever since then. The first 2 days were a little rough because he didn't want to go to sleep, but now he lets us know when it's nap or bedtime! He's happy as long as he has dog dog and duck duck. I hear lots of people say it's cruel, but it only lasts for about 2 days. If we just let our son stay up without taking him to his crib he would probably stay up til 12 or 1 too, but you're the parent and he needs to know that!

I wish I had an answer for this problem. I have a 4 year old and I still have this problem. I have tried every suggestion and nothing seems to work. My son has been like this since birth. His Doctor says he just does not require much sleep.
I hope you have better luck than I have.

I totally agree with tara, I developed a routine for 2 of mine but then again my 3rd is much harder and still gets up at night. I know this sounds bad but I had to put a tv and dvd in his room. I have a fairy tale dvd and some others that are good for night night but he does not get them every night only when he has real trouble sleeping. sometimes he gets out of bed after ive already gone to sleep which is a little scary to me, so i turn on his movie and he watches till he passes out and i then turn it off, he sleeps through night after that usually. but i only allow the kids to have an hour a day of tv usually split up into 2 shows so they dont get burnt out.