It it normal to have bedtime battles with a 2 year old?

He battles me every single night. He wants to stay up past 10. Based on a poll I did here a little bit ago, this seems too late!

Advice?

Re: It it normal to have bedtime battles with a 2 year old?

DS just turned 2 in December. Since we came back from Disney in October bedtime hasnt been as easy.
FIrst he learned the fine art of stalling
" I need water"
" Mickey mouse blanket"
"lucy (the dog) come to story time"

Now the stalling is less, but hte minute I say story time he cries and tells me no. I turn off the TV and he tries to turn it on.

We incorporated our dog into story time now. I put his little folding couch in his room and the dog loves to lay on it, so we say "lucy story time" and she goes running in to his room. He enjoys this and he likes to sit and read stories to her.

Overall I think its normal as they get older to realize they would rather be up playing than sleeping.
DS is not horrible he doesnt really battle with me, but our routine is much more drawn out now than it used to be due to his desire to stay up.

DS goes to bed at 9. It works great for him and our family. For me 10 is too late because I like having my 2 hours of downtime with DH before we go to bed.
But ti works for us, DS sleeps nearly 11 hours at night then takes about 2 hours of naps during the day and he isnt cranky before bed so sometimes (like tonight) he didnt go to bed until just after 10. Heck Christmas eve he was up until 2am!

The point is a bedtime needs to be chosen based on what works for you and your DC. Not what the majority says they put there DC to sleep!

GL!

Re: It it normal to have bedtime battles with a 2 year old?

I think its normal. DD is 2 and we start in for bed at 7....by the time we get through the asking for water, I need to go pee pee, I need to say godnight to the kitty cats, I need a kiss ...a hug....its after 8. Then she gets up a few times, knocking on her door because she forgot something else. And the best is now she has learned to turn the door handles, and forget it...helps herself. We had to put a gate up outside her door so she can't go wandering at night. I am really beginning to see why they are referred to as the Terrible Two's!!!!

Re: It it normal to have bedtime battles with a 2 year old?

It's a battle here some nights too. DS is 2yrs 4 months and he usually goes to bed around 830-900. There are nights where he refuses to go to bed, so we let him stay up. IMHO If 10 works for you and DH, then keep it that way.

Re: It it normal to have bedtime battles with a 2 year old?

It was around 2 that Madelyn started really giving us a hard time about going to bed. Her typical bedtime at the time was 6:30pm.

At the recommendation of our pediatrician we started a VERY structured bedtime routine. We do "pottytime", then play in her room, then pajamas, brush teeth, read books, and finally bed (we shut out the light, blow kisses to various creatures in her room, look out the window and say, "goodnight world").

Throughout the routine, I'll ask her, "what happens after brushing teeth" and she'll say "read book!". During book I'll ask, "what happens after we read books?" and she'll point at her bed, "bedtime!".

I have to say, after about a week or 2 of having the routine (that we NEVER deviate from) she stopped fighting bedtime. We still have hiccups every now and again where she'll cry, but generally the crazy fighting of bedtime has stopped.

Sorry so winded, but I hope maybe my experience might be helpful. I think it's pretty normal for them to fight EVERYTHING at this age. though.

Re: It it normal to have bedtime battles with a 2 year old?

Does he nap?

If we let DS nap (his full nap is 3hrs) he won't go to sleep till 10ish. I either skip it or let him sleep for an hr (like in the car and transfer him to the couch or bed ... he is in a regular bed)

We do a very strict routine also...bath, come downstairs and play for like an hr with milk, brush teeth, read books, then bed. If he skips his nap or takes only a short nap he usually goes right to sleep at 8:30.

Message edited 1/9/2010 8:13:01 AM.

Re: It it normal to have bedtime battles with a 2 year old?

This post is making me feel so much better! DD was 2 in Nov. and was always pretty good about going to bed. Now she's in a toddler bed, and needs every single stuffed animal . She goes through all her stall tactics, "more snuggle, more songs, etcl."
we put a child proof door know on her door so she can't get out (feel bad about this, but it's for her own safety) But she can reach the light, so she gets out of bed and turns the light out. Last night, I gave up and she fell asleep with the light on. It's like the terrible 2s have kicked in bigtime!