active toddlers at bedtime

[huey duey & luey]

My 2 boys 21/2 are really active (nice word for out of control) at bedtime. They rip all their sheets off every night and end up slepping on the bare mattress. They have broken their blinds and tonight they literally knocked the closet door off. Doeas anyone have any suggestions on how to calm them down at bedtime. I usually end up going into their room screaming for them to go to sleep. thanks
Tara

 

[Blueeyes101817]

dunno if this will work,,i babysit at 2.5 year old every day and sometimes ill have to put them to bed....and he gets VERY hyper, especailly when he wants to see his mom/dad before he goes to sleep....about a 1/2 hour before bedtime, him and his brother lay down on the couch to relax and watch tv..then i just take them up, they brush their teeth and he lays in bed...i read him 1 or 2 books (i let him pick how many) then thats it.a.nd he goes right ot sleep...good luck

 

[mom2rb]

My twins were that way. What I did was put a mattress on the floor and I removed everything from their bedroom. All toys were in the playroom and all clothes were in the laundry room. Then I would read them books, brush their teeth, and kiss them goodnight. My doctor told me they were fine as long as they could not hurt themselves.

DH and some family members would say things about how bare the room looked but I didn't care. They will get tired and fall asleep.

 

[diznygirl]

I saw a study once that linked hyperactivity and tiredness. I've noticed this in my DS - closer to nap or bed time he gets all revved up. He's just over-tired. Spoke with the pediatrician and he suggested moving bedtime up by 1/2 hour. Tried that, it really worked well.

If we missed the "window" then we just kept him up another hour - rather then spending that hour frustrated that he wasn't going to sleep. After an hour up playing and watching TV, he usually tells US he's ready for bed!

Course, I'm only working with one here.....

Good luck!

 

[Dan Murphy]

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We have a pretty structured bedtime routine that starts 1 to 1 1/2 hours prior to bedtime.

Bedtime is 8pm (DD1 is almost 6 and no longer gets nap at school; DD2 is 3 and has a 2-hr nap period at school). At 6:30ish we have bath time which consists of brushing teeth, going to the bathroom and getting a bath. By the time both girls are out of the bath with hair combed (we have LOTS of hair with 2 girls!), it is close to 7. From 7 to 8, we (as a family), play board games, or read or watch a non-stimulating video. At 8, each DD gets to pick one story, and we get into one girl's bed (alternate nights) to read both stories. Then to bed; no arguments. Any whining or crying after bedtime results in a closed door which to them is a horrible fate.

It doesn't always work, but sticking to the routine gives our family a sense of sanity.