Speaking of Bedtime

I have had the same problem. I'm a single mom with three very small children and bedtime just bites. I read a few ideas online about helps for bedtime and I wish I could remember the site, but you may want to google ideas as there are great suggestions out there. As for me, I have had to try new things, alter, try something else, alter and just keep shifting things until finally something worked. I realized my oldest daughter is one of those that NEEDS a little more "mommy time." I found if I put her to bed after the other two it goes a little more smooth. With the other two I sit in each of their beds and let them talk about whatever they want and then I sing them a song. It seems to give them a sense of peace and knowledge that they are loved and helps them fall asleep. I have found that bedtime routine also helps a bit. If things are the "same" every night they just understand what comes next and eventually they do it. I wish you luck.

Is your 2.5 year old still in a crib? My son is that age and we have kept him in a crib and plan to for the forseeable future (you can get a crib tent to keep a climber from falling out for $20-30 on ebay). Then I would, as other moms have suggested, institute a "same-every-night" routine (for us it is 3 books and 2 songs), pop them in bed and go. Then go do your work or whatever you have to do and don't come back until morning. The situation right now is that you've taught them certain bed skills and there is really no way to undo that on your time frame aside from drawing the line. This is bedtime, this is what we do for bedtime, no questions. There is more justifiable source for guilt in depriving them of self-soothing skills than a week or two of safe, bedtime screaming that will give them a healthy bedtime and a healthy mom.

My advice would the to put them on a schedule. I know, you may have heard this over and over and so have I. But if kids have a special routine to their day, EVERY DAY, it makes it 100% easier to get them to bed at night.

I have 3 little boys myself. An autistic 8 year old, a 2 1/2 year old, and a 9 month old. My 9 month old was hard to get into a reoutine when he was younger, but now he starts getting grumpy every night arounc 8:30 and he wants his bottle, and to be put in his bed.

For my autistic son, I give him 2mg of melatonin to help him go to sleep. Sometimes I will give my 2 year old 1mg. Melatonin is something that the body produces anyway, so it won't harm the child to use it once in a while. You might use it on your 2 year old for a couple of weeks and then ween him off once he gets the routine down. The baby should follow suit.

I hate to tell you this but the first thing that came to my mind is that the children miss mommy. Bedtime is such a hassle in the first place but when you add to it a tough work schedule and no daddy at home things get nasty. I think that by working from home you may find that you can spend a little more time with them if you are lucky. You may also see that things might get a bit easier for you. My other half is away for three to four weeks at a time and when he does make it home he is there for only three days at a time and let me tell you that first night is a total disaster when bedtime rolls around. The kids want more daddy time. We tend to run about two hours past bedtime.

Do u have someone that helps you? If so have that person feed them their dinner and do a bath and story bedtime routine. That would help you tremendously. If you don't have that kind of person to help ask someone if there is anyone to help you.

Hello, I am so sorry that you are a single mom. I know being married and dealing with all that is hard.

I think you just do your story and brush teeth and tell them now it time to go to bed and put them in their rooms and let them cry and kick all they want in there own rooms. and as long you know they are ok then just let them do it. I know it is the tuffs thing to do but once they see that you mean it then it will get easier and easier. before that let them have a snack and then tell now it is book and teeth time and then bed time.

try a chart that each time they good to bed like a big kid they get a star and maybe at the ean of so many stars they get to pick something small at the 1.00 store or a meal they like to eat.

Best wishes. you can do it. it will be ok!!!

A.