Need Ideas on Getting Kids to Stay in Bed

Hi C., I suggest a good bedtime routine. It would even help to make it with the boys and write it down so you can all use it as a guideline. Your routine needs to include get a drink and go potty along with whatever else you choose. After you establish a routine, make a new rule to go along with it... bedtime is bedtime... and stick to it. If everyone gets a drink and potties before bed there is NO need to get up and go again, not in anybody.

If playing and goofing off is still a battle you could have one of them go to sleep in your bed every night with him knowing that you will move him to his bed when you're ready to go to sleep.

I hope this helps, I think the main thing is to be firm. Stick to the rule, bedtime is bedtime!

Try going to bed at different times. The 3 year old should be in bed a little earlier. He just needs more sleep and the older on can have a little alone time and be 'older'. Try putting one down at 7:30/8:00 and the other 8:30. Plus, stick to your nigth time routine and rules. Bathroom, brush teeth, drink, story, bed...whatever the request is after that it is 'no' no matter what. Sounds like they share a bed...so put a pool noodle under the fitted sheet in the middle and they have to stay on their sides. Stay close for a few night and stay firm. No. No. No. In the mornign if there are things they like to do like watch a certain cartoon or stop for donuts someimes...base it on their performance the night before. That way the crime and punshiment match. Soon they will learn that not going to bed like i was told means that i will wake up too late in the morning to stop and get a donut etc... For my middle girl her catch is she like to pick out her own clothes. She hates it when i pick it out. I will not let her pick it out before she goes to bed b/c i use it for levage in the morning....did she go to bed like i asked? Did you wake up when i asked you too and get ready? Do you have enough time? Ok then yes, you can pick out your clothes. Something i tell her as well.... You don't have to be asleep when i come back to check on youin just a minute but you better be faking so i can't tell your awake. Sometimes just getting her to stop for a brief moment and shut her eyes to 'pretend' when she hears me coming is all teh time she needs to just settle down. They hate to stop b/c they know they are down for the count if they do. Good luck!

Totally been there! Our boys are almost 5 and 6.5, and they've shared their room for a couple of years now. We've been down the same road. We had two main plans of attack. First, positive reinforcement. Have each pick a reward, then create a grid on a piece of paper. Every night they go to bed without coming out of their room and you are not able to hear them, they get a sticker the next night. We'd reward the stickers at bedtime so they were reinforced just before bedtime. And yes, one could get one and not the other. We did all sorts of rewards from outings to toys to treats...whatever motivates your boys and fits in your budget!
Second, we borrowed a technique from "Super Nanny" when she would sit in the room or just outside the room. You are not to say anything or if you do, make it short and sweet (i.e., be quiet, go to sleep, or say their name)...not the time for arguments or negotiations. This takes time and patience on your part, but it really does work. These two things worked good together. We still have issues from time to time, but they are easier to reason with now that they are a bit older.
And as far as late bed time and early mornings...it's hard, but it will get easier. Just reinforce in the morning that it would be easier if they would go to bed at bedtime. And, if possible, you could go to bed even earlier the next night and maybe cut out some part of their bedtime ritual they especially enjoy (if we cut out story time, it's as if the world is coming to an end)and say "you atayed up too late last night so you are too tired for story time tonight" or something to that effect. It's all about finding the thing that makes them stop and think.
Hope some of this helps! It'll get better soon!

I can see you have alread gotten some great advice so outside suggesting different rooms and/or bed, I will stick with humor.

When I imagine what I could do I saw the kids duct taped to the bed, and at one time I even mentally in desperation considered for a few seconds putting a lock on the door, sigh.

My brother's kids were bizarre, they have never had any trouble with their kids and bed but he is the only one I know that hasn't dealt with this and for many, it is a daily battle. I imagine that The Nanny has a website, she has good procedures for dealing with this but the main thing is consistency and not giving in no matter how tired you are.

When it gets to you, give yourself a good dose of the duct tape image, which won't solve the problem but will reduce the stress of the situation for you. Hugs, you'll get past this.

We did something similar to Tina. I made up coupons. We had a horrible time with our 5 year old getting up and "going potty". Well I didn't want to discourage her from the potty but at what point has she gone too much, ya know? And of course she'd always peak in at us. SO, I made her "bedtime coupons". I'd give her three and let her earn rewards the next day for her coupons that she had left (tv, candy, whatever motivated her at the time) but every time she got up she had to leave a coupon on the bathroom sink (so she didn't try to come out and bring them to us and prolong it). That cut WAAAYY down on the "I just need to tell you something", "I need a drink", and 100 trips to the bathroom. Now, at six, we hear her get up to potty occassionally but otherwise she stays in bed. Whatever you try, good luck!