Saturday, August 23, 2008
What are we doing wrong?!?
Why won't my kids go to bed before 9 o'clock (and sometimes 10) without a fight? I think we need a REAL schedule, a solid routine that we do every night. What works for you? I am sick and tired of these kids being so sleep deprived during the day, it makes them almost unbearable! I just want them to sleep! They need it so badly! They are almost like strangers now sometimes because of the behavior that they do during the day, and I know it is just horrible, but MAN! I just want them to quit it! Just stop for once, just stinkin GO TO BED without us having to make you run laps or play hard at a friends till 10 at night (thanks again Sarah!!). Just stinkin go to bed! ARG!
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7 comments:
dude, don't ask me. Stevie had a knock-down, drag-out fit tonight because we put him to bed at 9:25. "I'm just so sad and mad," he screamed.
Man! Well at least it isn't me! I love the things they say to try and guilt us. Tonight it was Natalie asking over and over for Brady to be in there with her, and then as soon as we put him in there....wait for it....she says, "can i sleep in your bed, i can't sleep with brady in here!" ARG!!!!!
I don't know how to help you with this one, I've never had a hard time getting the kids to go down, but Reece is still in a crib and I'm dreading the day I move him to a big boy bed. He goes down so easily right now, love and kisses, lay him down with his silky, turn on the mobile, and shut the door. Sierra's actually been a bit easier to put down since putting the kids together in the same room. She goes down after Reece is asleep so she knows she has to be quiet or he's going to cry. Sometimes she'll come out once after I lay her down, but that's usually it.
When I first started putting Sierra in a bed I used the trick they show on Super Nanny. Lay them down and get them settled and say goodnight. Every time they come out you just lay them back in bed without saying a word to them, don't even make eye contact. It takes a while the first few nights, but they eventually learn that you mean business and they aren't going to get to stay up after you put them down. It worked really well with Sissy.
I don't know why I did this, but I just set Reece up in a big boy bed. Probably because of my last comment. I'll let you know how things go with bedtime tonight, and naptime for that matter. Hopefully I'll be lucky with him, like I was with Sierra.
Kelton goes to bed no problem, but he's still small and in a crib. Ren goes down easily most nights (although every once in a while she'll come out several times). We have a regular routine and bedtime. We always do toothbrushing, then story time, then scripture stories and prayers. When I put them in their rooms I sing songs to them (Ren gets to pick 4 songs), then hugs and kisses and it is bed time. They are usually great about it except when we get out of the routine because we're socializing at a friend's house or something. Then it can be hard for a couple of days. We've had the routine from the get-go though, so they know what to expect. We still had a horrible time when Ren transitioned from a crib to a bed though. :)
Having a routine makes a huge difference. With both boys in the same room it's never quick (they like to talk) but it's quicker when we're on a schedule than when we're not. Ours is similar to Bonnie's, teeth, story, scriptures, prayers, hugs, and kisses.
I second the routine thing. I've had the boys on a really good routine from day one (at least as best as I could when they were newborns). I always give them a short bath, whether they need it or not, just for the habit of it, and they expect bedtime right after. Then they get their PJs on and I read to them, usually three books. Then Bryce reads a quick scripture, we pray and it's off to bed. It's one of the things that has actually always gone pretty smoothly for me, and I really think it's the routine. Now if I could just get Ewan to stay in bed in the morning instead of getting up when it's still dark...
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