Bedtime staaaalling help!

kmm2150 · September 2014

DD will be 3 in January. Bedtime is becoming such a nightmare. So much stalling at every step - putting on jammies, brushing teeth, picking a book to read, takes for ever and any attempt to hurry = meltdown. I've been trying so hard to have patience but I'm exhausted and just want a bedtime without a battle!

Any tips you have for helping her understand "if we don't pick a book now, we won't have time to read a story," or other good bedtime techniques, please share!

nunzchucks · September 2014

We went thru a stalling phase for about a week. The only thing that fixed it for us was consistency no matter how much whining/crying it entailed. If you only read two stories before bed, do not read a third story when asked. We give a set amount of time (with a warning) to pick a book before H or I just pick it out. Good luck!

dashofreality · September 2014

I definitely go through this and DD seems to go through phases where she is clingy and it is worse. If I get frustrated it always gets worse and often becomes a fight so keeping my cool is #1. #2 is not feeling guilty and deviating from your routine. Start bedtime earlier so you aren't as frustrated and build time in for the delays. Have her pick out pjs and books earlier in the day. Setting a timer works for some but didn't for us. We just recently started a reward chart and she earns stickers for teeth and getting into bed when asked the 1st time not sure how well it would've worked a year ago though.

tbmadeamistake · September 2014

Personally, I'd deal with the meltdowns for a few nights until she gets it. Dh does bedtime for our 2.5 yr old. He does a countdown. If she hasn't chosen, started, brushed her teeth by the time he counts from five to one, he does whatever it is for her. It seems to work really well for the two of them.

ASmallWonder · September 2014

We get through everything fine right up until it's time for us to leave the room. Then it's "Mommy! Um....is it....are we....is tomorrow a school day?" "Yes, goodnight." "Um...wait! I'm thirsty/need a hug/something scared me/etc." Followed by 5 trips downstairs for the bathroom, another drink, a weird shadow and so on.

Pips09 · September 2014

We have the same problem We do what you mentioned, like telling her we won't have time read a story if she doesn't do XYZ. We also tell her if she doesn't do something, mommy or daddy will do it. Like pick a story or brush her teeth. So then she can choose to cooperate, or we just move along without her. And then we follow through. We just deal with the meltdown when it comes.

It sucks and I hate ending our night like that. Luckily these phases come and go, we just cherish the times they are gone.