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Author Topic: How do you handle bedtime monkey business?  (Read 1394 times)

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Offline Love, laughter, & PJs

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How do you handle bedtime monkey business?
« on: February 10, 2012, 18:00:50 pm »
We're muddling through this over here and not feeling good about our current techniques.  ::)

Austin has learned how to get out of his room and every night (and many naptimes) he's just in and out of there like a jack in the box.  He comes downstairs, then runs away from us laughing, etc.  You can picture it, I'm sure. :P

In the past when he's been a total monkey we've talked about how his bears need a quiet place to sleep and occasionally we've had to take them away for a bit and tell him they need to get some rest.  Then he gets them back and then he listens.  Recently DH even took away his giraffe blanket, which is the key lovey around here.  He LOST it.  DH kept the giraffe for a couple of minutes and then gave it back.  It was terrible to hear him so upset and just didn't feel right.  But we didn't know what else to do!  And it worked.  ::)  He stayed in bed after that. 

I'm sure that some of this could be routine related, but I'm not sure what to do there either.  ::)

7ish: A
1:30ish: S (often it's closer to 2 by the time he's asleep)
1.5h nap - often he's REALLY hard to wake, though, and unless we literally drag him out of bed it's sometimes a 2h nap  :P
8ish: to his room, commence monkey business
9-10: finally S

I honestly don't care if he's in his room doing his own thing for a while.  That's fine.  But coming in and out, running down the hall, risking waking up Grace, openly doing the opposite of what we ask, laughing in our faces, etc, is no good.  We're over it.  What to do??
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Offline nona

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Re: How do you handle bedtime monkey business?
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2012, 18:04:53 pm »
here's what we did:

1. sleep rules
2. we used 2 gates, one on top of the other in the door way. the clear kind from target.
3. minimal interaction (e.g. time for bed, remember the sleep rules)

i never cut DS's nap short. he still takes the occasional nap at more than 5 yrs of age.
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heather



Offline Love, laughter, & PJs

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Re: How do you handle bedtime monkey business?
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2012, 18:09:02 pm »
So what were your rules, Heather?

We might need to think about the gate.  But he loves to come into our room when he wakes in the morning and I love that as well.  I also like that he can come to us if he needs us.  Hmm.
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Offline kellyincali

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Re: How do you handle bedtime monkey business?
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2012, 18:27:22 pm »
I'm just hopping on because we are in the same boat. ((HUGS!!)) I feel your pain, mama!
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Offline ark

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Re: How do you handle bedtime monkey business?
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2012, 18:33:28 pm »
ooooh me too.  Thought after years I had finally figured this one out!! 

 Every night I lay with him for a couple of minutes and we chat about his day.  I told him he needed to stay in bed or I wouldn't be able to lay with him the next night.  DS stayed in his room at bedtime for a week straight.

Now he's back to getting up several times for a hug, or water, or whatever!!!

Curious what the "rules" are too and how to enforce them.
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Andrea

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Offline nona

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Re: How do you handle bedtime monkey business?
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2012, 19:28:57 pm »
Well depends on what's more important. Morning cuddles or monkey business. We removed them after a while and pulled out as needed for a gentle reminder.

The rules were basically our bedtime routine- brush teeth, etc., 3 books, 2 tuck-ins once he is in bed ( extra hug/kiss), one sip of water b4 bed, that kinda stuff if he asked again , we'd say he already had his sip of water. Now he was free to get it himself but we were not getting it for him or tucking him in again. Does that makes sense ?

We were very firm with the rules and after a few weeks we took the gates down. He was not happy about it at first but soon learned we were serious! Did not take long to get the point across.
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heather



Offline nona

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Re: How do you handle bedtime monkey business?
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2012, 19:30:00 pm »
I'm on my phone but I can try to find them. His preschool teacher suggested it as kids like a routines.  I created a little sheet with pictures of the routine.
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heather



Offline Tweakster

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Re: How do you handle bedtime monkey business?
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2012, 18:28:29 pm »
Reading along...we're having issues here too.

(((hugs Kate)))
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