Evan is 4 & has always been difficult to get to bed. This has been delt with by co-sleeping since he was about 6 months. Since about August last year he has been co-sleeping with Glenn. DH still stays with them till they are asleep. We have now reached a point where we feel he needs to learn to go to sleep on his own. He is very naughty come bed time, stuffs around, talks, cries, makes excusses for why he needs to get up; need to wee, hungry, thirsty, wanna be with mum etc. I put my foot down about us both being in there while pg with Isla & don't want to take over for DH when he gets fed up with Evans behaviour as I feel we would be giving in to want he wants. Its not that he wants me, its just another decoy to avoid going to sleep. The biggest issue is that he often keeps Glenn awake & also wakes Isla with his screaming & yelling. DH doesn't want to make bed time seem like a punishment for him but he is also starting to lose his temper with it. He has to get up early & really needs to be in bed & asleep by 10.30 other wise he is paying for it for days untill he can catch up again. Its getting to the point that 10 - 10.30 Evan is still awake.
I think we need to introduce a new bed time routine where Evan is going to sleep with out one of needing to be with him. But how?
This is our bed time routine atm, admittingly its not stuck to 100% but we do try.
Ok Dinner is around 7 / 7.30, Then around 8 /8.15 teeth & toilet/nappys etc.
8.30 a story book, lights out at end of the story & another spoken story (three little pigs, three bears, that sort of thing) while they are meant to be going to sleep.
Glenn is usually asleep within 5 or so minutes after lights out. Evan well its now 10 & I can still hear him yakking. Neither of the boys have day sleeps, they just don't work in our house. DH thinks that an earlier bed time wont work either as regardless of what time they go in its usually 9.30 before they fall asleep (which makes sence because day light savings means its actually 8.30). We are happy with this bed time, earlier just wont work seems DH often isn't home till 6.30/7. Its always been this way because when I was working I wasn't home till 7.30.
So I am looking for suggestions on how to make the transition to a hassle free bed time!
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