I am having a problem with getting my 3 yr old to go to bed and stay in bed. He either thinks it's a games and comes out and giggles or he screams/crys like crazy. I really wouldn't care if he stayed in his bed and read, or talked to a stuffed animal or something quite until he fell asleep, but this constant running out of bed is driving me nuts.
And I know that marching him back to bed without saying anything can work realy well, However, I do not see this as an option for me. I also have twins infants that I exclusevly breast feed, and I am not able to get up every time he comes out to march him back to bed. When I am feeding one of the girls I am not able to jsut get up unless I really have to. And I am on my own at night to deal with them.
So does anyone have any sujestions on how I get get my 3yr old son to go to bed and stay in bed without me haivng to march him back to bed every 10 min?
Thanks in advance
J.
Thank you all for all of the wonderful ideas. I finally decided to give up the afternoon nap. I really didn't want to, but it has made bed time much easier. He still gets up once or twice and jsut stands at the door, I don't even have to get up now, I just tell him to go back to bed and he does! If he gets up 3 or more times then I will let him lay on the couch until I am able to take him back to his bed, but that has only happend once.
There has been a few days when he just really needs a nap, and on those days I let him stay up a bit longer.
Thanks everyone again!
I recorded myself reading several books to my sons that they could listen to while falling asleep. You can also get some audio books from the library. They have a great selection. If you find books he enjoys then he will want to stay in bed listening to them and will eventually fall asleep. I did this with both my boys and they are voracious readers now and STILL listen to audiobooks every night at the ages of 9 and 16. good luck!
Hello J., Try putting a baby gate in his bedroom door, then a blanket on the floor by it. He will cry himself to sleep by the gate for the first few nights, but after that, if he get no attention from anyone, he will stay in his bed where it more comportable and warm. With my oldest, by the suggestion of our pediatrition, we put a hook lock on her bedroom door, then unlocked it after she feel asleep. Hope this helps you. Good luck.
Does he still take a nap during the day? If so, it could be that he doesn't need naps anymore and is not sleepy enough at night. We had trouble when my daughter was 2 with her waking up often and saying she couldn't sleep. We decided to eliminate naps and she hasn't had any night issues for a year since that (except the occasional bad dream).
If that doesn't work, I would try the gate idea (we did that at first just for safety purposes), but you might have more trouble if he starts shaking it and waking up the twins.
Jan ~
Why not put a gate up at his door? That way you're not closing his door and locking him in, but he can't get out of his room, either.
D.
J.,
Sounds like your little guy just wants to be where the action is. I have 5 children and I also nursed them. What I would do if you can't get right up to take him back to bed is maybe have him lie quietly right by you until he either falls asleep or you can finish what your doing and take him back to bed then. I know its hard when you have a new baby, let alone 2 of them at once! He may just crave the secure feeling of being close to you right now. Good luck.
How wonderful that you're breastfeeding your daughters! Hooray for you! You'll never regret it. Can his dad take over Jacob's bedtime routine? If not, I'd maybe try a new routine. Don't drive yourself crazy with this. My guess is it's about the twins taking your time. It'll all work out over time. Some kids this age are weird about bedtime anyway. God bless you, J.!
I agree with the others, sounds like he just wants to be where the action is. Having him lay next to you until you can take him back to bed is good advice. Finding something that he loves to have and making the rule that whatever it is has to stay in his room is also good advice. Also remember that 3YO sleep patterns can change in a minute, so while he may have been tired at a certain time a week ago, he might not be tired then now. Soothing music played in his room may help him relax and stay in bed as well.
Hi J.,
You sound like you're in a tough position. You're right putting right back to bed works but it doesn't sound like you can do it. I think what I would do is try and spend a little more time with him before bed basically add more to his bedtime routine. Then I would figure out something he really loves and then if he continues to get up I would take it away. That always works for my kids. Is there anyway for you to get a little help for a few days? It wouldn't take him very long to understand the consequences for getting up. Good luck.
Chris
WOW! Awesome for you to breastfeed your twins!
Why not get a mattress and put it in your room and he can just sleep there.. or maybe get him something less comfortable so maybe he'll decide to just go back to his room?
