Bed time help!

Cassandra - posted on 08/16/2010

Sorry Cheryl, the girls are 5 and almost 2.5. No they don't get caffeine sometimes sugar but sugar doesn't make children hyper, that's a myth. My youngest still takes a nap. I tried doing away with it and then I find her asleep in bed sometime in the late afternoon, say 4:30 or 5. Then bedtime is even worse, so she gets no more than an hour usually around 1130 or 12.

Teresa - posted on 08/12/2010

If I can't hear my girls (8.5 year old twins) I usually just let them be. They have to be up no later than 6:30 and it's not ME that suffers if they don't get enough sleep. If I can hear them making trouble though... I make one sleep in the living room. That usually results in some tears and arguing since one of my girls is afraid to sleep alone, but at that point I just don't want to listen to it anymore. They KNOW how to behave at bedtime, so if they don't.... they have to suffer the consequences.

Candi - posted on 08/12/2010

Are you sure they're "soothing" each other to sleep or waking each other up?



I can tell you what worked for my two girls, who are separated in age by about two years. Bedtime was not only sleep time but lights-out-time and quiet-time. This meant no talking. So after visiting some, reading a story and giving kisses all around I would sit outside their door for a little while. This was to enforce the quiet time guideline. I found that after doing that a few times they got the picture. Also, if they came downstairs I didn't let them sit with me and watch tv, etc. I walked them directly back to their room. This helped them understand that getting up and coming out of their room wasn't going to be any fun. My daughter's are now 12 and 14 and have very good sleep habits, even asking me if it's okay if they can go to bed.

Cheryl - posted on 08/12/2010

Also I wouldn't give them a sugary snack before bed.. light protein/ whole grain something or fruit and cheese, etc. no juice, maybe milk if they can tolerate it.. the calcium helps to relax and make them sleepy.. also have a wind down routine.. bath, snack, story time, no stimulating tv before bed just soft music and stories.

Cheryl - posted on 08/12/2010

You did not mention how old they are, how active they are during the day and if they still take naps..If they do still nap I would do away with that right away, just have a quiet game/story time in the afternoon.. then are they active enough during the day to get all their energy out? do you let them have sugar/caffeine?? You might need to get them up earlier in the morning say 6 or 6:30 if you would like them to go to bed earlier at night.. you might not be able to have it both ways.. up a little later in the am means up a little later in the pm.. mine would be up at 6 or 6:30 but down around 8 or 8:30.. consider these things and see what might help.. separating the 2 and putting the younger down first might help..

Cassandra - posted on 08/12/2010

Danielle, I have thought about that but I am worried it would do more harm than good. They rely on each other when they sleep. They each have a bed in the room but every night they sleep together in the same bed. I think it would be very hard on the both of them to break that up. When one wakes up at night the other soothes them back to sleep. I would rather suffer through them playing at night than being so sad to be separated.

JuLeah - posted on 08/12/2010

Sounds like they are old enough for conversation, so let them know (not at bed time) what you expect. Then, warm bath, jammies, teeth, books .....

If they talk and giggle, maybe put the youngest down first and let her fall asleep .....

Have a reward system, something they will work for ... first one asleep gets to pick what you all eat for breakfast .... or asleep with not fuss, and tomorrow we ????

Good luck

Danielle - posted on 08/12/2010

Do they maybe need separate bedrooms for a while?