3 years old- refusing to get pjs on at night!

ninabride · June 2013

Does anyone else have this problem? There is a melt down every night just to get pjs on. We've tried giving her a naked time limit then agree to put clothes on but no luck. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

AZ123 · June 2013

Does she get a treat at night like watching tv or a dessert after dinner? if that's the case, then tell her she has to get ready for bed (i.e. pjs on) before she gets that treat. Another strategy is to tell her you'll take something away for not putting her pjs on. For some kids, it is a particular toy but for DS1 at age 3 it was his morning cartoons. Bad behavior the night before and he didn't get his morning cartoon.

Leap08 · June 2013

We always read books before bed. If she doesn't put her PJs on in a timely manner (we've started setting a timer and she races it), she loses a book. It really motivates her to get dressed. She loves "winning" and gets really excited about beating the timer.

barnwife · June 2013

We don't have this problem. Mostly because we don't care if he wears pjs at night. If he wants to sleep in just a diaper, that's fine with me.

BeanNut · June 2013

Our 2 1/2 year old flat out refused to wear her pj's a few months ago and it wasn't worth the screaming and kicking to fight her. So we put her pj's away in the basement and now and allow her to pick a t-shirt/tank and pants to wear to bed. For her it was about her comfort and also control over what to wear. If she is stalling and won't pick out her outfit, I tell her that I'm going to choose something for her and then she usually cooperates.

chardonnay24 · June 2013

It's not a battle we fight. If he wants to wear his PJs, great. If not, fine. It won't hurt him to sleep in a diaper.

There are some things (sunscreen, brushing teeth, etc.) that are non-negotiable but I am not going to fight him on wearing clothes inside the house.

TiffanyBerry · June 2013

Let her not wear PJ's. Really, why does she have to? She doesn't need specific clothing to sleep, she just needs to be warm enough. This could be done with PJ's, street clothes, dress up clothes (for that matter), a blanket, a heater (not that I would, but it fulfills the need). DD has NEVER worn PJ's to bed. She's three, and it's always the shirt she's worn during the day (unless it's terribly dirty, in which case she picks out another shirt) and her diaper.

twirlyjack73 · June 2013

Often my son is content if we let him sleep with a favorite short or shorts. He just wants to hug it all night. That usually works.

onetwofree · June 2013

Does she get to pick them out? I let the kids pick out their PJ's. Sometimes they choose their regular day time clothes to wear as PJ's. As long as it's climate appropriate, I let them wear whatever to bed.

sschwege · June 2013

barnwife:
We don't have this problem. Mostly because we don't care if he wears pjs at night. If he wants to sleep in just a diaper, that's fine with me.

This is what we do. Give DD a choice of whether she wants to wear PJs or not. She always chooses to wear them, but if she one day decides not to then that's fine too.

BelhurstBride · June 2013

The secret in our house is choices. DD has to feel in control.

Let her pick the PJs, whether they be PJs or a clean set of clothes. Or no PJs at all. Does she want to change herself or have Mommy help, or Daddy help? Let her pick if she wants to put them on and then brush her teeth, or brush her teeth first. Does she want Mommy to help brush or Daddy? She picks the book. She picks if we snuggle in her bed or mine. She picks if she walks into her room or gets carried, and how she gets carried? (Like a baby, like Shrek does, on Daddy's back?)

We have some nights where everything bedtime related is a battle and that usually means we missed the boat and she didn't get to bed early enough. Is she heading to bed too late?

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3 years old- refusing to get pjs on at night!

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