Two year old + bedtime = 'Nuff said

[Marionette]

Ok, I'll try to make this legible as I chase him back to bed every two minutes..

I am a first time single mom of a two year old. Up until recently he'd stayed in his bed at night and portacrib during the day for his nap. Shortly before Thanksgiving, he figured out how easy it was to get out of them. So now it's turned into all out war to figure out how to get him to sleep for his nap and to keep him in bed at night. He thinks it's a game and it's driving me crazy. I'm so far passed the end of my rope I can't even remember what it looks like anymore.

My strategy thus far has been, at nap times, generally I'll sit with him in the rocker with the news on TV until he just goes to sleep then lay him on his sheepskin on the couch. That's been working alright for this week.

Bedtimes have been another story.. Before, he'd usually be in bed by 8 at the latest.. Anyhow, I live in a one-room studio so besides the bathroom, everything is in the same big room so it's not like I can corner him off in his own room with a mattress on the floor and let him figure it out on his own. Within 5 minutes of putting him in bed he'll be up and out faster than I can walk 20 ft over to my desk. So lately it's been a battle to wait him out which usually lasts until 10:30. (It's 11:15 right now so a new record tonight..) PLEASE HELP ME!! *falls over and dies*

All I've been able to come up with is giving him a swat every time he gets out of bed but that's been useless.. It just ends up with us both in tears but I don't know what else to do! I've tried pushing him back onto his bed if he stands up, I've tried holding him in there and telling him it's time for bed.. Good gravy it all sounds pretty barbaric reading it but most of the time he just laughs at me! Maybe I'm pulling faces at him without realizing it, I dunno. I've tried being serious, talking softly, yelling, ignoring, silently putting him back in bed and immediately leaving, standing over him.

My nighttime has turned into a nightmare.. It used to be the time I had to relax without worrying if he was climbing on the dining table or swinging off the lamps. Also last night he was so upset at having to stay in bed that he worked himself up to the point of reintroducing me to that night's beef and broccoli. Not fun.

So please, any advice and/or prayers are pleadingly welcome. I'm out of ideas..

 

[James 1:27]

Our 2 year old likes to get out of her bed and come out of her room. I tell her that I will put up the gate if she comes out of the room. That is the one she doesn't want-her gate up. I know that won't work in your studio, but figure out what one thing he doesn't want to happen, ie, a certain toy taken away, a light turned off, whatever it may be. This is one way to take control of the situation.

But be ready to be tested, we were and I had to put the gate up and she cried and was sad. So be ready to follow through, but you'll only have to do that once or twice.

We have 4 kids, ages 2-17. We finally realized that God gives us authority to be their boss...especially the little ones. We've also learned to be creative in our approach. Different things work for different kids, even in the same family.

Be encouraged, 2 year old are NOT easy . I pray God will give you wisdom in this for your child and strength and patience for you.

 

[Leanna]

He sounds not tired. You will need to cut the nap back to a much shorter time or perhaps out altogether. If they day care gives him a 3 hour nap he's not going to be tired at night, you know?

 

[Linnis]

I had to cut out my son's nap or have a really short less than an hour.

Keep the TV off after 6p - with an 8 p bedtime.

My son cannot open his door on his own. I give him the choice to lay down and go to sleep with Momma in the room reading or by himself with the door closed. Normally if I leave I do so for under a minute and go back and he calms right down and goes to sleep.

 

[suzybeezy]

Establish a night time routine so he knows you're working towards night night time. Then after you put him in bed, first time he gets up tell him its bed time and escort him back to bed. After that, each time he does it, without words just usher him back to bed. It will take a lot of work at first but eventually he'll get the idea.

 

[Stan53]

We went through this with our eldest DD at the same age.
Sit beside the bed until he goes to sleep. That's what we did. When said child even moves a muscle to get out of bed we would take the appropriate action. Only took a week or two.