Bedtime NIGHTMARE

So a little history first:
My boys are 26 months- we converted them to toddler beds at 20 months because they were climbing out and into each others bed. When we did the conversion we used the "Nanny" tactic and it worked. Then it stopped working at one point and one wanted me to rock him- no problem they would be out in 15 minutes. Then about 3 weeks ago their naps extended to 2 hours (from 1.25hrs)- bed time turned into a circus. I moved bed time later and things got super crazy. So pulled it back a bit but it is still a circus takes 1/2 to 1 hour to get them to stay in their bed and sleep.

Techiques we've tried-

• Super Nanny techique- they think it is a game- they laugh when I put one back in bed
• Let them play in room and - but they destroy it,
• yellling
  
  
  They are too young for a reward chart. The only thing I can think of is to find a way to secure their drawers shut and let them have at it in the room until they fall asleep.
  
  We are desperate for ideas and bout willing to try anything.
  
  Current Schedule:
  6:00 up play in room
  6:40 out of room
  11:45/12pm nap (2 hours)
  7:00 bed ( takes 30min- 1 hr to go to sleep)
  
  Thanks much,
  Michele

 

ugh for you! I'm dealing with a really late bedtime right now. I'm thinking I need to cut the naps. My nanny cuts the kids nap to 1.5 hrs, and I'm thinking it needs to be cut more... the days that the kids don't nap they do go down at night a lot quicker...

I love your list of what you've tried! big ugh, huh?

Mine are finally sleeping closer to 9:15p I'm SO over the long evening, I mean I have things to do myself.

I can't wait to hear some suggestions.

 

Honestly, I would just remove everything from the room and let them have at it. For my two, we never had anything in their room but clothes and beds and when they had just switched to toddler beds, I had to put all of their clothes in totes for a couple of weeks until they figured out that they needed to sleep.

 

Can you go back to letting them nap for only 1.25 hours?

Can you put a toddler lock on the outside door handle? That is what I do because I don't want them roaming around the house. When it's bedtime, I close the door and lock it. At first they would jiggle the handle but now know it is locked.

My boys bedroom has their beds and an empty night stand- nothing else.

I was going in there when I heard them but like you, it became game. They would jiggle the handle and as soon as I opened the door, they would run back to bed laughing. Now when I hear them, I just yell through the door to get back in bed and get to sleep.

Now my one son will lay on the ground in front of the door and yell "mommy". :laughing: I will tell him to get back in bed but it's been really cute lately because he's been falling alseep in front of the door. When I go in there before I go to bed, I have to push the door really hard to move him and get him back into his bed.

 

I cut my DDs nap to just one hour. Its the perfect time for enough rest during the day. One DD usually sings through her nap anyway, the other wants more. However the 7PM bedtime is a snap! They are ready but not too tired either. They awake anywhere from 7:30 to 8:00 am. (that doesn't include the nightwakings for one DD but thats another story

 

UPDATE:
So I took a little of everyone's advice. I removed everything from their room that could cause harm. The first night they played for 30 minutes then hopped in their beds and slept until almost 7am!!! They napped over 2 hours. Tonight they played about 25 minutes- one fell asleep in his bed the other on the floor- but he transfered right to his bed. Don't want to jinx myself......so I'll leave it at that.

 

awesome news! I totally need to take the dresser/changing table out of our room... all they want to do is climb up it! UGH. I'm sure when you do take out all the frivilous things it takes the temptations away.