Bedtime nightmare...advice desperately needed.

Here are the facts:

My son is almost 3 and never tired. He never wants to sleep. Ever. He used to sleep when he was a baby but for the past 6 months or so, he refuses. He just keeps getting out of his bed over and over and over again until the wee hours of the morning.

My DH and I are at our wits end (and exhausted). He says he wants to be with us - in our bed - which we obviously want to avoid, especially since we are expecting #2.

We have tried everything: a bedtime calming routine. Laying down with him. Singing to him. Night lights. If I close his door or just let him cry it out, he makes himself throw up immediately.

His doctor suggested giving him Benadryl to make him more tired so he passes out, but I am not yet at the stage of drugging my child. Any suggestions?

Re: Bedtime nightmare...advice desperately needed.

i know with infants, when doing CIO, if they throw up you are just supposed to clean them up as quickly as possible, and out them back to bed.

DS is only 12 months, so i don't know if this is good advice, but i would try it with your DS too. clean him up, tell him it's time for bed, and shut his door. i think only if your are firm and consistent will that work, though

Re: Bedtime nightmare...advice desperately needed.

Has he been able to explain why he can't sleep in his room and why he wants to sleep in your room instead?

Re: Bedtime nightmare...advice desperately needed.

I just posted about my sleep problems with my 3 year old yesterday. I got some suggestions of starting the routine earlier and putting him down earlier. It worked for laast night but I'm still holding my breath waiting to see what happens tonight. Someone also recommended a Ferber book which I think I am going to pick up. Good luck.

Re: Bedtime nightmare...advice desperately needed.

I just saw a Supernanny episode on this the other night (it;s my new obsession)

The two boys kept going into the parents room into the middle of the night.

Basically the parents had to keep putting them back into the bed - over and over and over again. Sometimes it would take 10 mins - other times an hour. I believe she had them keep the conversation to a minimum too. Just silently put them back in their bed and walk out. Eventually it worked.

The thing I have learned is that you have to be consistent with whatever you do! Good luck!

ETA: Reading these posts makes me convinced I will have my son sleeping in his crib till he is 10

Message edited 9/14/2009 12:46:43 PM.

Re: Bedtime nightmare...advice desperately needed.

Re: Bedtime nightmare...advice desperately needed.

Posted by Diana1215

I just saw a Supernanny episode on this the other night (it;s my new obsession)

The two boys kept going into the parents room into the middle of the night.

Basically the parents had to keep putting them back into the bed - over and over and over again. Sometimes it would take 10 mins - other times an hour. I believe she had them keep the conversation to a minimum too. Just silently put them back in their bed and walk out. Eventually it worked.

The thing I have learned is that you have to be consistent with whatever you do! Good luck!

ETA: Reading these posts makes me convinced I will have my son sleeping in his crib till he is 10

Re: Bedtime nightmare...advice desperately needed.

I don't have any advice b/c my DD is only 13 months but offer you

I am puzzled why your pedi would suggest benadryl to make him sleepy..IMO that is a bit MUCH!

Message edited 9/14/2009 8:52:12 PM.

Re: Bedtime nightmare...advice desperately needed.

Posted by karanthony

I don't have any advice b/c my DD is only 13 months but offer you

I am puzzled why your pedi would suggest benadryl to make him sleepy..IMO that is a bit MUCH!

Re: Bedtime nightmare...advice desperately needed.

Wow, the ped said to give your DS Benadryl to drug him to sleep? I totally do not agree with that. I think you can fix this without drugging him! I agree with the above posters who suggested you keep returning DS to his bed until he learns he needs to sleep there. It will take a few sleepless nights (maybe you could do it over a vacation time?), but I think that would eventually work. Don't talk to him, and you must be firm and consistent with it. Also, what about rewarding him the next day for sleeping the night in his bed?