CIO for 3 yr old?

[wren]

I am re-posting this, cuz I think my other one is lost in cyberspace 

This was last night….
Gave DS a bath, dressed in PJ’s and into my bed for a bit of TV time. When the time came we brushed teeth, and off to bed. We talked a little, had hugs & kisses than I left him to fall asleep.
2 min later he was downstairs saying “not bedtime”, I told him twice to get back to bed then carried him there. I said, “the sun is sleeping and you should be sleeping too”. That’s when it started, “NO, not bedtime” “I go downstairs” “Not sleepy” “NO, no, no” I said, “it is bedtime, now put your head down and go to sleep”.
I left the room. He waited 30sec and was on the stairs again. This time as I carried him I was punched, scratched and spit on. I put him on the bed and walked out.
The next time I was at the door waiting, I took him back in and cuddled him, sang to him and he calmed down. I left.
He was up again. This time I sat on the bed blocking his escape from it, he was crying, yelling, etc, etc. Eventually he put his head down (still crying/ whining) and it tapered off to a whimper. I then left the room and did not hear from him again.
It’s like I had to let him C.I.O.

[Lici's Mum]

I don't know, I never considered it CIO if it was ignoring that whining.... Don't be harsh on yourself. They need their sleep regardless of what they try and tell us. 
If it gets too much and he really resists, drop the idea that it's sleep that you're after and let him have a book - as long as he stays in bed.
Lici can often be awake until 10pm. But she knows that she must stay in bed. I can't make her sleep, but I can make her stay in bed.
They drop off after a while.
(Oh and she has no light - only the normal night light that is in the hall away from her bedroom, so it's not 'reading' at all....)

[15milner]

I wouldn't consider that to be CIO at all.  Having watched some of the parenting programmes what you did is a good way.  You quickly returned him to bed with the minimum of attention and eventually he got the idea. 

Don't beat yourself up about it.  I think we'll end up doing something like this once I get the courage to take the sides off the cotbed and he's no longer contained!

Hope tonight's better.

Alex