[buglover]

DS has decided to start throwing massive tantrums at bedtime. His usual night routine goes dinner @ 6pm then bath /shower then reading books and cuddles before into bed @ 7-7.15pm. everything is going ok until after reading time. getting dressed after bath time has become challenging as he wants to play but after reading time is when the massive tantrums start. as soon as we mention sleep time and try to get him into bed he starts screaming and thrashing about. its really getting worse and its so frustrating. when we eventually manage to calm him down and get him into bed then the battle to try to get him to stay in bed begins.


if anyone has any advice on dealing with bedtime tantrums i'd really really really appreciate it!!



thanks

[Riotproof]

Have you considered that he's not tired? DS is in bed by that time, but he doesn't have a daysleep anymore.

[ChickenortheEgg?]

Having the exact problem here.

We left him for a day to follow his flow, he woke at 8am and slept at 11pm.

Sleep time has become a nightmare. We have tried everything.

[boatiebabe]

Can you do books and cuddles IN bed?

I think you just have to stay calm and consistent.

Don't let it become an negotiation. Don't engage. Take all the emotion out of it and say this is how it works and then keep taking him back to his room calmly. If you have to do it 100 times the first night so be it. The most important thing is not to enage in any 'games' and conversation and eventually he'll get it.

With our kids at first we would stay in the doorway until they went to sleep. I would take a cushion and a blanket and a book or magazine. I would move away a little every day until I was on the lounge outside the room reading. I would always promise to check on them multiple times - and I followed through. I think this was kind of a security thing for them.

They are 8 and 6 and still ask to be checked on - which I do, but they are usually asleep on the first check.

It didn't take more than a week or so to keep them in their beds and stop bed time dramas when they were littler.