Although I can't offer you any advice. I just wanted to say that I am going through exactly the same thing. My son is 2 years 4 months. And I'm struggling so much at bedtimes, he has additional needs too (they think!), so I can't explain anything to him either. So I'm going to keep a close eye on your replies, and try to put them into practice too lol. Good luck

Mandy

Ok I am going to try and help.

1. Do not stimulate him before going to bed. No sugary stuff, no t.v.
2. Read a bed time story together. If he still won't sleep saay ok I'll make you a deal one more bed time story and then we sleep. Hold him/hug him until he sleeps. Make bed time a loving and enjoyable event. Ask him about dreams in the morning or tell him about your dreams. If he still refuses turn your back and ignore him -- he should eventually go to sleep-- its the battle of the wills and you just have to win!

I hope this is helpful. Good luck

Hi, first of all, definately take note of "momof2".
Just to add to what she has said, when you take your child to bed at night, yes lay on the bed with him until he sleeps. After a couple of nights of doing that, start just sitting on the bed right next to him, till he sleeps. Do the same the following night, but this time sit a little further away from him. The next night a little further away and so on. This may take a week or two and I understand may be quite time consuming, but in the long run will be worth it. When the night comes when you are sat on the very end of the bed, this should be the last night you have to do it. The next night, you should be able to take him to bed, kiss him goodnight and quietly leave the room.

Hope this helps,
Best of luck.

Hmm. I hear what you say but the main problem is that he wakes several times throughout the night and I cannot 'discuss' dreams or make deals as he does not have any speech yet.

I am sitting here writing while my little angel, 20 month old Grace, is in her bedroom doing god knows what! I am also fed up and am clueless as to what to do next. Grace has had her big girl bed for over 6 weeks now and thinks seem to get good and them it all goes bad again. At the moment she likes testing me by getting back out of bed as soon as I put her in there. I have read a large number of books and have not found clear direction on what to do. I have tried to 'slow withdrawal' and it works until I get to the last night... I will be watching for ideas.

My daughter is just over two and firstly I waited until I had a few days off work so I was fairly relaxed and not 'ratty'. Then I put her cot away and gave her no choice but I had had the bed in the room for a while as a 'toy settee'. Hubby bought a sleeping bag and she found the whole camping idea fun - still does. I get in with her and read her a story a few times and then give her a kiss and say 'night night'. I then get her to say 'night night' back to me and after she does she seems to realise that I'm going and not returning until morning. Admitedly she is up one every night at the moment but we think this is habitual now due to chickenpox and then a cold!

It feels like you are the only person in the world who cannot manage a simple thing like putting a tot to bed but dont be feeling bad because of the odd clever clogs who says they never had a problem. I have found that putting a safety gate in the doorway and not responding to the shouts and short cries is starting to work. When he gets no response he toddles back into bed. It is not easy ignoring your child when he calls or cries but feeling guilty and upset seems to be part of parenthood.
Hope things get better soon.http://assets.bravenet.com/common/images/forum/icons/set16.gif
http://assets.bravenet.com/common/images/forum/icons/set16.gif

hi just been reading some of the probs peeps having been having well my daughter is 21 months old and we was only talking today about taking her railings of the cot is this a good age to start from then as i see a lot of the babys r around the same age group as my princess