Kid Question...

Have you ever seen supernanny? I saw one with 2 kids like you described. I'm not a parent, but many of the girls I work with swear by this woman's advice. She basically established a bedtime routine (bath, book, whatever) then put the kids in bed and kissed them goodnight. The first time they got out of bed, the mother would say "No, it's time for you to stay in your bed" and put them back. After that, the mom would just put them back into bed, without any words or hugs or or eye contact or other rewards for the child's bad behavior. It took a lot of time, but the kids eventually went to sleep in their own beds and the parents got the parental bed back to themselves. The biggest barrier seemed to be the fact that the kids knew if they threw a fit, the mom would give in. Once she stopped giving in, the kids stopped throwing fits.

I've had to resort to similar things with kids I looked after. One girl in particular used to throw the biggest fits I have ever seen. You would have thought she was having an epileptic episode or was possessed. Eventually her body would lose the fight and she would fall asleep, but man it was crazy. I can't imagine doing that every night. Fortunately it got better as she got used to me over the years. My hats off to people who choose to have kids!!! You deserve a spa day or something;)

We co-slept (is that the right word :uhoh21: ) until recently. I loved sleeping with my DS, but I was ready to have the bed to ourselves (DH and I). I have seen Supernanny before and decided to try her method. After his bedtime routine (brushing teeth, book reading and kisses goodnight), I put my 2-year-old in his bed and turned out the light. He was so mad at me and kept trying to get out of bed. Everytime he did, I just put him right back in. I sat in the room with him the whole time. It took about 30 mins and 20 times getting out of bed, but he finally fell asleep. He did wake up at 5am and came to sleep with us. I didn't mind since he slept most of the night by himself. Last night was DH's turn and it didn't seem to take as long (maybe because I wasn't in the room). The thing is that you have to be consistant.

I am with you Stevie. Our 4 yr old dd slept with us until about a month before little bubby was born. We had also recently moved into our new house and her bedroom was the first one we painted and decorated. She loved her new room and her special blankets(dora and care bears). I actually figured I was just making.room for the next one to fit in but he will actually sleep most nights in his crib. (of course it is in our room) She still fights most nights, she wants to sleep with us she wants to sleep on the couch, she wants to sleep in bubbys room..........

I don't mind the kiddos sleepingwith me in fact I enjoy feeling those little warm bodies pressed up against me. I know the number of days that they will still like me are number, eventually puberty will steal these two precious babies from me like it did my older two dd (now 20 and 16). I just wanna hold on tight as long as I can.

We do have a routine(more or less)jammies, teeth brushed, story, and a fresh cup of water. Then it is about 10 "mom come heres", " I here thunder, can I sleep on the couch?" "It's too dark, turn on my night light," It's too bright turn off my night light." Some nights she is so tired she is out before I leave her room.

I personally do not believe in letting my kids cry themselves to sleep. I did it too much as a child for more ominious reasons and I don't think any child should ever feel abandoned or isolated.

You might try getting a cd of some favorite songs and make them bedtime only, she can only listen to them wile lying in her bed.