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I need help getting my 5 year old to go to bed/sleep.

My daughter is 5 (6 in October) and it's a fight every single night to get her to go to sleep. She starts a fit as soon as we tell her it's bed time and it seems like it just doesn't stop after that. For the next 4 hours or so she keeps screaming for one thing or another; whether it's water, a different book, she wants more hugs or kisses, or she's kicked her covers off and insists that she doesn't know how to put them back. We've tried ignoring her and it just keeps on, we've tried talking to her and we've tried taking her toys every time she refuses to listen.

I'm just out of any kind of ideas on this one and any help is appreciated.

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Padfoot

Asked by Padfoot at 11:54 PM on Jun. 28, 2012 in School-Age Kids (5-8)

Level 1 (3 Credits)
Answers (5)
  • Do your normal bed time routine with hugs and kisses. First out of bed tell her it's bed time, put her back in bed and cover her up with a hug. Second time out of bed tell her it's bed time and put her back in bed, no interaction. Third and more time out of bed put her back in bed with zero interaction. Once she learns that she's not in control and Mom and Dad are serious she'll mellow out. My daughter turned 5 in march and we still sometimes have to do this with her for a week or so. She gets it quick that Mom and Dad aren't playing around and bed time means go to, and stay in, bed.
    Rosehawk

    Answer by Rosehawk at 1:15 AM on Jun. 29, 2012

  • with m dd we have a routine that we do every night (even in summer when she's out of school) after supper, she plays while i give ds a bath, then she gets a bath or shower, brushes her teeth and goes to lay in bed. i turn a movie on for her and giver her a bottle (not a baby bottle) of water and she's usually asleep before the movie goes off. she's in bed around 8 every night
    josiesmommy00

    Answer by josiesmommy00 at 7:22 AM on Jun. 29, 2012

  • So- do you never come to answers? Or did you take a CM break? (I see you've been a member for a while and I am nosey)

    Rosehawk and Josie gave good advise. I would just add, on days where we did nothing all day the kids would take forever to go to sleep. Is yours getting enough daytime activity to wear her out? And no refined sugars before bed? (yes, i believe refined sugar cranks kids engines)

    Also, are you insisting that she "go to sleep" or just go to her room and go to bed?
    Because I know I cannot fall asleep on command, but must allow the natural rhythm of my body to unwind...remembering this for my kids alleviated a ton of stress for all of us.
    feralxat

    Answer by feralxat at 8:22 AM on Jun. 29, 2012

  • This so funny, I just came on here to ask the same question!! You are not alone, know that!
    mlmsm928

    Answer by mlmsm928 at 1:18 PM on Jun. 29, 2012

  • Third and more time out of bed put her back in bed with zero interaction. its true....
    GlitteribonMom

    Answer by GlitteribonMom at 2:25 AM on Jul. 28, 2012

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Answers / Parenting / School-Age Kids (5-8)

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