Dawdling before bed..

[UmmInayah]

Hi,

DD is almost 17 months old, and she will do absolutely anything before she finally goes to sleep.. She sings, she laughs, she tries to get me to laugh, she will ask for her bear, then her cat, then her blanket.. then 2 blankets, then milk in a cup and then won't drink it, then a breastfeed.. then milk in a cup again, then her pillow..!!!

Ugh! How do I get her to realise she can't keep doing this? I know she is only little, but I am losing my patience because I know she is tired, just dawdling..

Also, what excuses does your bub come up with?

[NibbleCurlynBub]

I don't know..

Both my kids run to bed after their bottles are ready.

[UmmInayah]

I don't know..

Both my kids run to bed after their bottles are ready.

Oh man! How I wish for that.. Takes us so long to finally get to sleep.. Lots of rocking, patting, and giving her absolutely everything before she goes to sleep.. You should see how many things she tries to have cradled in her arms as I am rocking her.. LOL.

[mim1]

Just set up a routine and stick to it. Tell her that it's time for bed (she will understand) and put her in her cot.

For example our routine is saying goodnight to everyone, including the trains on their table. Then we put the trains to bed by putting a blanket over the table. Then it's time for a nappy change and getting into pj's. Then it's bottle time in the chair next to my ds's cot. He has his bottle on my lap (or dh's lap) in his sleeping bag, cuddling his pooh bear blankie. Then he is read a story, we pray and then it's into the cot and lights go out.

Remember you are in charge. Be firm. Choose the routine you want and make it work. You might want to make little changes as time goes on (eg. sleeping bag or not), but try & keep it as structured as possible. The first few nights might be a challenge, but you could be surprised. I'm often surprised by my ds who can talk and point and wriggle for 10 minutes in the chair before going in the cot ... and yet he doesn't cry & is probably asleep within minutes of the door shutting.

[Seekrit]

the best way to make Cobey eat his dinner is to say something like "Right, bed time." he then decides it's dinner time. he also dawdles. He has to wee, then he has to have a drink, and then a cuddle, and then shaun the sheep......

[Jax Tellers Old Lady]

My son does this. He has always had a routine but sometimes tries to push the limits. He goes from needing more hugs and kisses, milk, water. The latest excuse was I had to go in to his room and cover his sheeps feet as he was cold.

[UmmInayah]

Just set up a routine and stick to it. Tell her that it's time for bed (she will understand) and put her in her cot.

For example our routine is saying goodnight to everyone, including the trains on their table. Then we put the trains to bed by putting a blanket over the table. Then it's time for a nappy change and getting into pj's. Then it's bottle time in the chair next to my ds's cot. He has his bottle on my lap (or dh's lap) in his sleeping bag, cuddling his pooh bear blankie. Then he is read a story, we pray and then it's into the cot and lights go out.

Remember you are in charge. Be firm. Choose the routine you want and make it work. You might want to make little changes as time goes on (eg. sleeping bag or not), but try & keep it as structured as possible. The first few nights might be a challenge, but you could be surprised. I'm often surprised by my ds who can talk and point and wriggle for 10 minutes in the chair before going in the cot ... and yet he doesn't cry & is probably asleep within minutes of the door shutting.

Thank you so much for the info. I do usually tell her "Sleep now.." in a firm voice, but she looks at me and shakes her head and says "No teep" She knows what she wants, when she wants it.. no matter how many times, or how I say it, she just refuses.

I guess I will just keep being firm with her. Eventually she will get the message.

[UmmInayah]

My son does this. He has always had a routine but sometimes tries to push the limits. He goes from needing more hugs and kisses, milk, water. The latest excuse was I had to go in to his room and cover his sheeps feet as he was cold.

LOL! reminds me of my nephew who was 2.5 at the time, he used to make up that there was a cow in the room, and then when you switched on the light he would be all "But it was here!" lol.

[Jax Tellers Old Lady]

LOL! reminds me of my nephew who was 2.5 at the time, he used to make up that there was a cow in the room, and then when you switched on the light he would be all "But it was here!" lol.

Thats priceless

[Mummy_Johnno]

This must be a 2 year old thing DS for the last week or two has tried to get me to stay in his room for ages ... another story, water, wee, teddy, daddy etc etc .....

NOW i just have to say to him ( after his first story ) night night Lucas, sleep well, see you tomorrow, love you x ... and walk out and shut the door! Within 10 - 20 minutes he is fast asleep

He changes his 'night time needs like clockwork every 2 weeks or so ........ and i just say the same stuff to him

When do they learn just to roll over and shut their eyes and sleep peacefully till morning????????