Quote From: mumma2boyzBack in July 2005 we finally bought our first house. This marked a time of great pleasure and the beginning of severe frustration. My two boys, ages 3 1/2 & 4 1/2 will not stay in bed. Sometimes they continue to get up until 10 or 11 o'clock at night! We have a very nice routine every evening of bath time and story time. I've even tried doing the bath/book thing to each of them, so they are both getting my undivided attention (I thought maybe they just craved more time with Mom & Dad) I've tried yelling, spanking, locking the door, repeatedly putting them back in bed (standing outside the door, wait for them to come out, put them in bed, walk away), taking away toys, TV, laying in bed with them...We've even implemented the "PRACTICE GOING TO BED GAME"...they have to go to bed early every night until they can stay in bed. This worked for about 2 days. I don't know what to do because NOTHING IS WORKING. This is affecting our entire household. Not only does it impact their behavior, because they are so exhausted, but it is also beginning to wear on me as I feel I never have any time to myself. I AM DESPERATE. Someone please give me some insight before this bad habit ruins our family.
I think the hardest part is having compassion for them and, yet, helping them sleep on their own when you are also tired. Seems like we had a lot of issues when they were 3 and 4. My husband didn't like it, but I would hold the hand of my youngest until he fell asleep, sitting by the side of the bed. Took a few months with gradually shorter times and he was fine. The other one would see snakes at night, so he had a sleeping bag next to our bed. Later, he slept in a tent in his bedroom. Whatever works so they get their sleep and don't disturb the other one. Sometimes both my boys (4 years apart in age which is way different than yours) would sleep together. I think one other thing is for you to not to share the bed, since the big thing is for them to find a way to go to sleep on their own.
