[Curious123]

We just put DS1 (5) and DS2 (2) into the same room and all hell has broken loose! They previously went to sleep within minutes of being put to bed, and I knew there would be some excitement with them being together, but they have consistently been up until 10pm in the 2 weeks since they merged!
We tried holding DS2 out from his nap so he would be more tired, but it just made it worse.

When we merged them we started a star chart to reward them for staying in their beds, but it is completely empty, even though every morning they come out with eager excitement to see if they earnt the trip to the "special" park (which is a big park that is a bit far away and a real treat, so I thought it would be enough of an incentive). However, I don't know if this is not working because the reward is not immediate - they don't get it until the next day. With everything else we have used charts for, like toilet training, the reward has been instant.

I'm not too worried about the late nights atm, but I don't want it to last or become a habit. I mean, I'm worried they're not getting enough rest as they are still waking by 7, so they're not sleeping in or anything to make up for it. Long term this will be an issue, I'm sure. Not to mention if DH and I want to watch some TV or something, I don't want them coming out...

Need some advice, please!!!

[meggs1]

Staggered bedtimes until the excitement is over?

[libbylu]

Why don't you let your five year old stay up looking at books in the lounge for half an hour or doing reading with the other parent while the other parent settles the two year old to sleep, and then once in a deep enough sleep, go in and quietly tuck your five year old down.

[barrington]

Ditto to PP, I would stagger the bedtimes for a while.

[mama123]

My almost 5 year old and 2 year old boys share a double bed. They go to bed at the same time and we don't normally have a problem. They will sometimes nap at the same time too.

If I find they are getting a little excited I will lie between them and cuddle one of them and tell them it's quiet time now. Once one of them is sleepy enough, I leave them to it.

Hope you find something that works for you.

[lozoodle]

I stagger bedtime otherwise my girls are like that

2yo goes down at 7, 4yo at 7.30

[~ky~]

Definitely stagger bedtimes.

This post has been edited by ~ky~: 19/12/2012, 09:09 PM

[Fredi]

On the occasions they've shared a room we've staggered bedtimes too. Our 2 year old just gets way too excited and wants to wrestle, sing, cuddle, tell stories etc our 4 year old likes to tell his brother to go to sleep but he doesn't really resist his brother's attempts to play. The only way to get around it is to make sure the little one is asleep first.

[lizzzard]

Yep - I'm just going to give the same advice as PPs. We had exactly the same issue when ours first started sharing, but staggering the bedtimes worked a treat. Occasionally the younger one stays awake until his sister comes in and if they are particularly hyper they might chat then, but it's rare now. On the up side, they love sharing which is very sweet.

[librablonde]

Why don't you let your five year old stay up looking at books in the lounge for half an hour or doing reading with the other parent while the other parent settles the two year old to sleep, and then once in a deep enough sleep, go in and quietly tuck your five year old down.

That's what we do here as well. My kids share bedrooms too. DD aged 4 goes to bed and about 1 hour later DS goes to bed. He reads silently in the lounge room to himself during that hour. This tactic works about 80% of the time, and the other 20% is when DD doesn't go to sleep so they screech and jump around like monkeys until they fall asleep on their floor around 10pm......