Parenting Forums

Posted: 24 July 2007 at 10:29pm | IP Logged

I must admit bedtimes have become a nightmare with Cerys as well, although she is fine to have her story she wants more than one and a constant cuddle, which is fine but even after a good 10 minutes and Seren screaming downstairs she gets really upset when I tell her that she needs to go to sleep.

The worst part of all and I can't think of anything I can do about it is the window sills are very wide and she has taken to standing on it and shouting at the neighbours. The problem is her room is so small that I can't lay it out any differently. Tonight we had tears because she couldn't get herself down from the window sill and was stuck half way. As soon as I got her down and told her to get into bed she leapt into bed saying 'I've been very naughty'... what could I say except 'yes you have, climbing on the window sill is very dangerous'

We'll all get through it one way or another... trouble is have I allowed a big enough age gap between Cerys and Seren or will it be a case as one finishes the other will start!!!!

Posted: 14 August 2007 at 3:59pm | IP Logged

I have this with ds but dd is naughty all the time, people always say how cute she is, if only they had her for a day, i think to myself.

I would love it to come in fits and starts like ds as it is easier with ds than dd

Posted: 15 August 2007 at 7:02pm | IP Logged

Welcome to the wonderful world of the terrible twos.  It's bloomin awful, isn't it? But don't despair, mate, it doesn't last forever.

I've found that 'time out' for Tom works best.  He gets 3 warnings and then I carry him up the stairs (often under one arm so his chubby little legs don't catch me as he kicks about) and then he's placed in his cot.

I then wait for him to calm down and go up to him.  I ask him if he's sorry (telling him what he's done wrong) and more often than not he says no - he likes to press my buttons.  At which point I say 'right then, you can stay there young man until you can say sorry'.  I do this until he gives up and says sorry for whatever it is he's done.

It was hard at first, but I must say he's becoming a more delightful child now. Plus just the mere mention of going in his cot for time out is enough to switch him out of his behaviour.

Good luck!