Three year old won't go to sleep by herself

I'll admit my husband and I spoiled our daughter, her bed is in our bedroom, that's more to do with space than anything, we have two kids, and a two bedroom apt, we are buying a house this year. So she is in our room and we always lay with her to put her to bed. It just sometimes takes up to two hours for her to go to bed! She is constantly fighting, telling me she doesn't like going to bed. I have a schedule with her, we eat, take a bath, read three books, then it's bed time, and when we are reading books we are sitting in bed. I just don't know what to do to get her to sleep by herself. She's not a child who will wear herself out crying. I tried that, and it was terrible. She's the type of kid who won't even fall asleep in the living room, she has to be in bed, otherwise she's wide awake. I love laying with her and snuggling with her, but then I end up falling asleep with her and I get nothing done! Any advice, besides crying it out?

Re: Three year old won't go to sleep by herself

i hate bedtime.. bores me to death LOL
we got to the point where she only gets to go to bed if she's nearly passing out. Means less than a half hour of reading laying with her.

We sneak out of her room very quietly on those nights.

Honestly though it became a phase and its passed. We refuse CIO

Good Luck

ETA: our bedtime for her is 10pm. Some may scoff that but honestly, its when she's tired, she sleeps well and solid. Any earlier is a fight and no one gets a good nights sleep.

Message edited 2/8/2012 12:47:05 PM.

Re: Three year old won't go to sleep by herself

That's about the time she goes to bed, I start at around 830-900, I work in Manhattan, so I only get her from Daycare at around 630, I like to spend time with her at night. I am going to extend it to 900, maybe start at that time. I do everything to tire her out, we have dance parties, play games, she is just so full of energy!! Maybe I will start getting ready at 900, then by 10 she should be out!

Thanks!

Re: Three year old won't go to sleep by herself

What does she do if you just leave her? My DS opens his door and talks to himself in the doorway anywhere from 30-90 minutes and then at some point decides he's tired and goes to sleep. This may be more difficult because you are in an apartment.
We used to go to his bedroom a million times and tell him to go to sleep but then just decided to leave him be. He lays down when he is ready.

I would think with your DD its just habit at this point since you lay down with her and you'll have to break her of it by just leaving her. This may be easier once you're in a house.

Re: Three year old won't go to sleep by herself

Re: Three year old won't go to sleep by herself

Does she still nap?

I admit my 4yo DS doesn't put himself to sleep either. We lay with him. But after 2 stories he is asleep in 5 mins. It was just after he turned 3 that I was having the same problem as you. Although DS would just lay in bed tossing & turning for up to 2 hours. Then I noticed on days he didn't nap we didn't have this issue. So I took nap time away. Moved bedtime up 30 mins and he is fast asleep in no time.

Re: Three year old won't go to sleep by herself

If I just leave her she cries, she gets out of bed, she is a stubborn little thing. And I admit she is spoiled, but I don't give in, the last time we tried to CIO, she made herself throw up, it's just not a good thing. I am going to try laying with her until a timer goes off, then going into the other room.

At home she doesn't nap in daycare sometimes she naps, but the teacher told me if she does, it's only for about 30 minutes, I don't think that would really make her this awake. I am just at my wits end. I need me time!! lol

Re: Three year old won't go to sleep by herself

i would start putting her to bed much later.. if she is consistently falling asleep around 10 i would start bed time aroun 9:30-9:45.

my kids started going to bed earlier, but they used to go to bed at 10:30, and bed time started at 10.

now they are going to bed between 8-8:30