Bedtime has become battle time at our house. I'm not even sure when or how it started, but it is a nightmare.
"My tummy hurts because it needs chocolate milk..." "I need to potty..." "My finger is sticky..." "I'm not (yawn) sleepy..." and my personal favorite: "I need um, ...um, ...ummm, well, I need something!" There are so many excuses, I can't even keep up!
Lately, it takes around an hour before Emma finally stays in bed. I have tried a little bit of everything, but nothing seems to work. I have started bed time earlier/later, I have spanked, I have put her right back in bed without speaking a word to her, I've even taken her toys from her. She still gets up!
Short of strapping this kid to the bed, I don't know what else to do!
It is seriously taking a toll on me. I just don't know what happened to my good sleeper. I mean, really, she was such a good bed timer! And, now, not so much... I can't figure it out.
It is such a frustrating time because I don't know if she is just stalling to be stalling or if she is dealing with something she can't verbalize yet. Either way, I want to help her... I just feel helpless.
I hope that this gets better soon. She needs her sleep, and Mama needs her sanity!
It's a phase. Hopefully it will be short. :) We went through it with our daughter, and finally had to make a rule - 3x out of bed/3 requests is the limit. After a while, she stopped coming up with excuses. Oh, she still has to get up to potty every once in a while after she is in bed, but then she stays put after that.
ReplyDeleteWe are just starting a similar phase with our son now. "Mommy, I can't see...." "Mommy, I need my truck..."
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I agree..phase, and it's exhausting. Fnding the niche that works is key but takes time. With Laila....it took daddy putting foot down and giving big spanking. Plus I addded in time limited bedtime routine of her choice. She can choose book, talking to mommy, singing and tickling back. When Justin isn't home..... I would let her choose her thing....if she pushed after we finished our 10-15min time....then the next night...straight to bed....and if she pushes...door shut. It's like potty training...find the niche! Sorry...but good news is...gets better
ReplyDeleteI hope you're right that it is just a phase! I just wish I could figure out what her 'currency' is. There is no punishment that I have can think of that matters to her... She is her Mama's child!
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