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avatar Anonymous

Both my 4 year old and 6 year old never get to bed on time. How can I help this process? I've tried many things!

My 4 year old son always fights sleep. My daughter will get in bed around 9/9:30 and go to sleep, but my son will do everything and anything to stay up.

We live in a small one bed plus den condo so they are in bunk bed int he master bedroon with a bathroon. They lack for nothing in terms of toys, clothes, etc. and I love them so much it hurts. My husband and I have been having some difficuties and I know that this issue plays a fact as well.

Sorry if I sound corny or exasperating. I just desperatly want some parent's opinions.

Thank you so much.

Question applies to ages: 4, 6

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avatarElizabeth.Johns
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Top 5 in: Choosing College, Discipline, Families and Relationships, Family Activities, Growth and Development, Health and Wellness, Learning Disabilities and Special Needs, Learning Styles, Parents and Schools, Safety, School Policy and Education Issues, Study Skills and Academics, Summer Learning and Camps, Teens and Jobs, Transitions and Readiness, Motivating StudentsTop 5 in 16 Topics		 I often struggle with getting my 6 year old to bed on time. Here are a few things that have worked for me.

1. Start earlier than you think you need to. Bedtime preparations always take longer than you think they will.

2. Turn the TV off at least an hour before bedtime. This will help your child wind down to a calmer state before bed.

3. Have a consistent routine. In our house, this is: snack, two bedtime stories, brush teeth and go to the bathroom, two songs, bedtime kisses, and then turn on a quiet music CD.

4. Since your 4 year old wants to "do everything and anything" to stay up, come up with a plan for when he gets out of bed. One friend of mine gave her child two "tickets" that he could use for getting out of bed. If he got up after he had used up his tickets, then he had to go to bed 15 minutes earlier the next night. You also have to be firm and consistent when he gets up--don't make being out of bed fun or interesting for him. Just say: Johnny, back to bed, then march him back to the bedroom, tuck him in, and leave. Don't let him watch TV with you until the next commercial, or have a snack, or get an extra story. Make it BORING for him to be out of bed, so that he doesn't have a reason to get out.

5. Make bed a nice place to be. Is he warm enough, cool enough? Does he have his favorite loveys in bed with him? Does he have a nightlight (or conversely, is it dark enough for him)? Is there gentle music playing, or white noise of some kind? (we have a humidifier in the winter and a fan in the summer that provide white noise that helps my daughter sleep).

6. Finally, and this seems counter-intuitive, but your son's bedtime may be too late. Often when kids are over-tired, they get wired and CAN'T get to sleep. Start putting him to bed earlier and he might sleep better.

Hope you find something here that helps.

References:
mom of four
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