Bedtime woes

catycate

DS has gotten into this habit of stalling at bedtime. We do our routine, then lights out and he's up for the next 2 hours, asking for hugs, water, whatever. It's steadily getting longer and since he doesn't nap, he really needs all the night sleep he can get. Any tips for nipping this in the bud? We've tried setting up expectations, we've tried taking away treats the next day. I've never used a sticker chart but I'm not sure how to introduce that and if he'd "get" it.

sometimesalwayschaotic

WE did a sticker chart with DD1. WE would put two stickers outside her door each night. If she came out once, she'd lose one sticker and lose the second one if she came out a second time. These then went on a chart. This wasn't enough motivation so 8 stickers earned a treat of some sort such as a show. She's over it now, it seemed to be a phase.

littlemermaid

Make a checklist maybe on a small white board and every night have him check off each part of the nighttime ritual. Then after he's tucked in I would use the Supernanny approach where if he comes out of his room you do not speak to him, just walk him back to bed and you leave without communicating/interacting with him; repeat until he finally stays in bed.

dizzycooks

This was a much needed read as for some reason my two yo has decided to get up repeatedly and cry for me tonight. I think she's more aware of when she's peeing at night and it bothers her, but seriously I can't do two wakeful nighttime children. Supernanny trick to the rescue!