3 year old having trouble with bed time.

Sheena - posted on 11/08/2009

I know this is a little late and you probably already have it figured out, but here I go anyways. I had the same problem with my son and I was told by a RN that a schedule needs to be set up. An hour before you put your daughter to be turn all your tvs, radios, etc (anything that makes a noise) off. Then have her push around a basket of clothes likes it is a game. This should wear her out and make her want to go to bed. Also turn as many lights off as possible so it is dim but not dark. My son now goes to sleep easier. Yeah I do still have some problems with him, but on those days I read to him after all of it. A bath in Lavender helps also because it has soothing oils in it.

Ruth - posted on 11/08/2009

Quoting Danielle:

3 year old having trouble with bed time.

I have a 3 year old daughter who is having trouble with bed time/naps. I've tried stories, music, snuggling, night lights, something to drink... but she still gets out of bed and throws a fit for what seems like hours, or sits at her door yelling into the living room "Mommy, I'm just awake!"

Any suggestions?

Dear mom some times just sitting in the room with your child until she falls asleep without giving her any attt: works I work in a daycare setting and I have children that act out in the same manor I fine that letting then know how good it is for them to be big boys and girls and taken a nap will help with there growth and make them feel better

Michelle - posted on 11/06/2009

well i am not conventional mom we would have make believe swords and dragons and make tiaras out of aluminum foil and she would tell the story and you listen and join in when you can gives something to dream about i have boys also and i have to fight monsters everynight yea fun but works

Jenny - posted on 10/09/2009

I knw this isn't going to help. I j want to let u knw that u r not alone. My son waylon who is 2 1/2 has always been bad w bedtime. But for some reason lately he has to have a light on ALL night. He also has been getting up throwing fits. He will get so upset he will throw up sometimes. Maybe cut her nap. Does she take one?

Clarissa - posted on 10/09/2009

I have a 1 year old and a 2 month old. I have put them both on a schedule. They eat dinner between 5pm and 6pm, bath time at 7pm, play with my oldest to tired him out, and at 8pm he is in the be. I'll read him a story and rather he's sleep or not, I close his door and let him know it's bedtime. It's hard the first couple of nights because they will cry and throw a fit, but after a few nights they get use to it. Now, they both sleep all the way through the night.

Heather - posted on 10/09/2009

Routine is the first step...make it fun but important...a bath always helps n dont give in to her fits...leave her in bed! I know it frustrating bt keep returning to her bed with no compromise...telling my kids gudnite..mommy loves you ...sweet dreams n I'll see you in the morning helps them.

Vickie - posted on 10/09/2009

Start by elminating the naps. She may be getting too much sleep. Close to 2 hours before bedtime, get her to wind down. Anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour before her bedtime, give her a warm bath with some soothing baby wash or bubble bath with lavendar in it. This is soothing & relaxing. If she gets out of bed, return her to her bed immediately. If you are positive she doesn't have to go potty. tell her she has to stay in bed. If she pitches a fit, tell her that she can't have or do something she likes the next day. Get her a stuffed animal or doll that she is to use to sleep with at bedtime only. Try giving her a small amount of warm milk before she goes to bed, to help her sleep.

Tonya - posted on 10/09/2009

My 3 year old son was the same way, saw this on supernanny and thought it couldn't hurt to try. At bedtime we did our normal routine, i kissed him and said its time for bed I love you, and put him to bed and left the room and stood by his door, he got back up i picked him up put him to bed and only said its time for bed and left, he got up again i picked him up said bedtime and put him to bed, the fourth time you don't say anything just put them back in bed, we did this 64 times the first nite b4 he went to sleep, the second nite it was only 27 times, the third nite was down to 8, the fourth nite it was one time whoo hooo he now stays in bed the first time i put him there. I was amazed to see this work I woulda never believed it if i didn't do it.. and I think my son was the worse child EVER to put in bed... we now have relaxing evenings .. hope this works for you

Danielle - posted on 10/09/2009

Oooh that will be hard. lol. Well, project put-in-bed-ignore-the-fits is now in effect. Thanks guys.

Sarah - posted on 10/09/2009

if you know she doesn't really have to go potty and she is fine, then yes I would ignore her. It's hard at first, but she is really trying to get your attention as well as get out of bed.

Danielle - posted on 10/09/2009

What about the fits, though? Even if I can get her to stay in her bed, she will still lay there having a fit. Do I ignore it? She'll scream things like, "I have to go potty" just to get out of bed, even though she just went, or "I'm hungry" even if she had just eaten. I dunno, I've just never had this problem with her until recently.

Danielle - posted on 10/09/2009

Thanks for all the advice, everyone!

Lisa - posted on 10/09/2009

i have a four year old nephew, and have babysat my share of toddlers and preschoolers. At 3 years old, she just might not take naps anymore. i also have a 2 year old of my own, he still takes naps, but they are getting shorter and shorter.
if she completely stops having naps, she might be more tired at bedtime.
You need to be a strong mommy and just enforce the rules. "it's bedtime, please go to your bed." take her to her bed any time she gets out of it, but don't talk to her too much.
If you've ever seen the method that "super-nanny" uses on the show, it really does work! it takes time though! your baby girl will sleep soundly by herself everynight in no time. Just form the habit and she will eventually accept it. Parenting doesn't happen instantly.
Good Luck!!

Sarah - posted on 10/09/2009

I have a 3 year old and an 18 month old, when they get out of bed I just put them back in and tell them it is time to sleep, nite nite. If they get up again, I put them back again. After a while, they stopped getting up all together, I guess they realized it didn't matter if they wanted up because they were going back in bed anyway.

hope this helps and good luck!!

Laura - posted on 10/09/2009

What time is her nap? Maybe she doesn't really need the nap so much as just quiet time. That is about the age I started telling my daughter she had to stay in her room, on her bed but could play or "read" quietly for one hour. Many times she would still fall asleep but taking it out of the expectation reduced the fight in her.



Also the nap may be interfering with her falling asleep at night, especially if it is later in the afternoon.