Does anyone else dread bedtime?

mrs.george2be04 · October 2010

Bedtime used to be one of my favorite times of day (for more than one reason, LOL), but now I seriously dread it. In happier times Logan would nurse to sleep, then as he got older we read stories and sang songs, put him down awake, got a sweet little "good night mommy" and that was that. Now I get tantrums, stalling, flipping the light on (and off . .and on again sometimes) and kid who will lay awake some nights until 10-10:30 before drifts off. Tell me I'm not the only mom who dreads bedtime!

kel716 · October 2010

Ugh. Yes....

However, lately I have essentially 're-ferbered' DS and it's been better. I didn't follow ferber to the letter, but rather in spirit if that makes any sense. It got to the point where dh and I were literally spending 2+ hours putting DS to bed. We were both getting stressed to the max, exhausted, etc... because we had lost our evenings. DS wanted to read stories, sit on our laps, play baseball (we said no night after night but he still tried), lay with us, etc... He would tell us where to lay in the floor and make us fall asleep with him. It.took.forever. DS was restless, and sleeping worse than he had in ages. So one night, I just pulled the plug. I still did his normal bedtime routine, and started reading only 2 stories each night (he picks them out- one is always Goodnight Moon, the other is whatever he sees first). We read them while he is laying in bed (this is a requirement for us), and as soon as the second story is done I kiss him goodnight, tell him I love him and to have sweet dreams, and leave. He usually runs out of bed trying to get me to stay and doesn't want me to leave, but I leave anyway. The first night I did this, he fell asleep on the floor after 1 check-in (I waited 10 minutes) and dh moved him later. The second night, he went back to his bed and fell asleep. Each night he's fallen asleep within 10 minutes (usually 5). Yes, he fusses, but he calms down quickly. As time has worn on, he's stopped getting out of bed as much and started realizing he has to lay in bed. As long as we keep the time consistent, he's been pretty responsive. And I cannot tell you how nice it is to have him fall asleep at 7:30. Seriously, I feel like I have a bit of my life back.

warriormomerin · October 2010

Yes, but I have a sleepless wonder so I've dreaded it pretty much most of his life.

JLPT830 · October 2010

I do dread bedtime these days. But I dread him waking up even more. It used to be super cute to listen to him talk to himself or read his books when he first got up. But this last month or so, it's the fake cry crap or whining or "I waaaaaant Moooooommmmmmy." Ugh. And he's been getting up anywhere between 5:30 and 6:30am.....double ugh. So I guess we should just chalk it up to the age.?

teacherjess · October 2010

Yes. We are there, too. Leah slept like a dream until last Christmas, when she started being very picky about bedtime. We'd often have to go back in over and over again at night before she'd go to sleep. Sometimes she would throw tantrums, scream for a half-hour or more, etc. In the past week, I've finally given up and put DH in charge of bedtime. He is willing to rock her for much longer and rub her back until she's really drifting off. I just don't have the patience, which I know is awful. So yes, we've been there and will probably be back there next week. I wish I knew how to fix it.

sistrkate · October 2010

OMFG yes, I hate it. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I'm going to write a post all my own about this.

cat81305 · October 2010

I hate the procrastinating but we nip it in the butt! Some nights he goes to bed crying but most nights he is fine. Sometimes he is up til 930 or 10 just talking to himself which is fine with me as long as he is happy and in his room. I agree with Jennie about the waking up thing. He wakes up saying mommy I awake and continues to get louder til I get in there which then wakes his sister, UGH! Gotta love this age :-)

andailey · October 2010

::raises hand:: ME!!!

Madelyn used to be so easy to put to bed. Bath, pj's, books, singing, brushing teeth and goodnight all was so fun and accepted by her in the past. Well, since she's hit 2.5, she has become a downright terror at bedtime. Refusing to put on pj's, stay in tub, read books, and just wanting to throw whiny tantrums all.the.time.

Our morning routine has become an awful nightmare because I have to leave the house at 6:50 am.. yup, insane. She has decided she's no longer a morning person (like her dad!!), and stalls and screams to get dressed/eat breakfast... I head to school usually with a pounding headache most mornings! And I hear it only gets worse with 3's. JOY! Surprise

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