Getting kids to sleep.

Ruth - posted on 09/05/2010

Well if you have not found something that works yet
This is a hard one to fix especially if you don’t control nap times. (I have a 3yr old and a 7yr old.) (My Brains on overload right now, so forgive me if I don’t explain well.) If married he has to do the same as you or have him go visit family (United Front). . This never takes more than a few days
Pick 3-4 days off of work, and no school for kids. (1 to 2 days for you to recover)
(if you have a hard time with Your temper This will never work, for Your or your child best intrest.)
Buy earplugs, Stock up on a lot of patients. Tell yourself no yelling No threatening them.. with unspeakable things.
Black /White, they do the crime they do the Time or just Timeout’s. or warnings that’s 1, that’s 2, that 3.
this helps with your own sanity I have Found. it is Less Stress on Yourself to not have to bargain and barter with them to do anything. Give choises that you like pick 7 or pick 2but let them know that if they don’t pick one you will.
In all aspects with kids of any age. not just fixing sleep issues. By at least 3yrs they should know This. If not it’s time to learn
Wake them all up a couple hours earlier, Lights All on, Eat,
No taking it easy, no TV, nothing they can do with their eyes half open.
Playing, Music, Dancing, Go Grocery Shopping
Once their up, normal day.
Then Relax, Kids who take naps, a little bit earlier naps. Or watch a movie. (If You need to take a nap or break. Send them to a friends or out to play with a babysitter, or with Dad, Grandparent’s)
Were not trying to make them miserable…
Everything as a usual day with no school and no work. Normal Bed Time and routines.

Now Here Is a Key Point To the Sleep Thing
Let them have Plenty of winding down time if it is a movie at say 8pm and lights out By 9:30. (Remember no yelling at them, no threats –go to bed now or else)
Now give it a little leeway. But if all is not quiet, like it should be with-in your limits
Get The Troublemakers and instigator All up. And All That can hear and understand what’s going on
It is Time For the object Lesson.
Put in your earplugs
If they are not going to go to bed when it is time they will all stay up with you, and do something useful.
30 min. to an 1hr CHORE’S, Deep Cleaning, Scrubbing Floors… Learn to Do Laundry. If not done right they can do it again. if they won’t do it by themselves then they will do it with Your help…..your Right hand on there right hand, left hand on left hand, help them with the task (Rotating children, helps If They are all in same room) they will be crying and tantrum’s. No Need to Raise your voice. No time outs , no going to there room unless that is where everyone is Working
Then dry their tears and give them kisses and send them back to bed.
If they still think it’s funny or they still don’t go to bed Repeat Longer
if the same night –longer Time
do this for 2-3 days Same daily Structure