Bedtime routine for spirited/textbook 3 year old boy

[caprizzosa]

Can anyone share their bedtime routines for spirited toddlers? desperately need some help. Thanks in advance!!

[anna*]

You might find some ideas here: Toddler wind down routines

My son isn't spirited but I did find that once he passed about two we did have to change things up quite a lot. We needed some physical play to get the 'sillies' out, we needed to talk about his day, we needed some time for stories and for cuddles... it took longer than the quick 'baby' wind-down that had always worked before.

[barbaraz78]

My child is spirited/textbook and our routine is: potty+teeth brushing. Then he chooses a book and we go on mummy's bed for reading it. Then we go in his room, he decides what of his animals he wants with him for sleeping, we greet the sun (on the gro-clock), I switch down the light and we chat a little bit about the day and how the day after will be, then I say goodnight and leave. Then daddy does the same and leaves too. Usually we have a couple of callbacks (with him asking if there is any wolf...) and he goes to sleep.

[cath~]

L is spirited and our routine is:

go upstairs
bath
PJs
teeth
toilet
two stories
say good night to sun (gro clock)
bed
sometimes have a couple of call-backs to be tucked in again if she kicks her covers off

Like anna said, I use the time she is in the bath to chat about her day with her.  I also describe it back to her (what she has done) and what's going to happen tomorrow while we are brushing her teeth.

With L, consistency is key so there is no room for arguments (although I do give her some choices where I can).  She knows what to expect and is happy (usually) to go along with it.

What are you particularly having problems with?

[barbaraz78]

Have to add that at about 18 mo we had to move bath at before dinner as it was too much stimulating for him and he was too tired after dinner so he cried a lot as he didn't want to come out. Now, on preschool days, we moved it even earlier (almost as soon as we get home) because he's often hungry/os before dinner and it is again hard taking him out and dress him. On the other hand, making i after school makes him relaxing and i can give him all the time he needs to chill out in the water.

[caprizzosa]

Thank you all for your answers. Catherine , in answer to your question , I work full time and don't get home till 6/6.30pm. As you can imagine I am totally knackered when I come in but usually they have both had their dinner by then. I have an 8 year old too. By this time you would imagine that after a day at nursery my 3 year old would e shuttered but he just seems to have even more energy at night time and while his older brother does not object to go to bed by 8pm and easily falls asleep (they share room by the way), never seems to be ready for bed. He always plays up, keeps getting up and/or gets moody and difficult (he does have a temper). I try to avoid arguments with him at all costs as he also suffers from eczema and he tends to scratch and night,more when he gets agitated. In sumary, bedtime with him is a nightmare,he tries all tricks to stay awake, and I am so tired I don't know what to do. I am just hoping someone out there also has a very spirited child like mine and can give me some advice on how to make it work. I can also say he seems to agree with sleeping 10 hours a night to get up happy in the mornings,any less and he wakes up very grumpy.
Thanks again!

[barbaraz78]

Does he nap still? Because, if he only sleeps 10 h at night, he could well be OT, and this can be the reason of the bt battle! For us, my DS becomes hyperactive when OT (like tonight...) and he is a total nightmare as it is very difficult to stop him!

[cath~]

Does he nap still? Because, if he only sleeps 10 h at night, he could well be OT, and this can be the reason of the bt battle! For us, my DS becomes hyperactive when OT (like tonight...) and he is a total nightmare as it is very difficult to stop him!

I wondered this too.
I know what you mean about getting home from work and being already exhausted when you start BT. I have the same thing 4 days a week. Hugs

[caprizzosa]

He does have a nap or rest time at nursery. A bit more difficult to get him to nap at weekends though...I know he is tired but when I put him in bed he argues his case, saying he is "not tired enough" and while his brother stays in bed he keeps getting up with excuses. I have tried staying in the room but he keeps talking to me, he always has something to say.....

[barbaraz78]

My ds is the same age and is dropping his nap. Now, when he naps (at preschool the have nap time but he does not take it every day and simply rests wihout sleeping) he takes a lot to go to sleep at bt (he's ut clearly). A weekends it is becoming almost impossible to let him nap (we are doing quiet time but it is becoming difficult as he constantly calls us). So I think it is normal if he's dropping the nap.
What about when he dosn't nap? Does he go to sleep quicker?

Have you ever thought to put a gate in the room?