Don't they grow up quick nowadays?

[dantheman]

a routine is good, i think. Mainly though, i think its important that they know that you are the boss, not them.... My son is 2 1/2, goes to bed 7.30-8.00 (used to be more strict, but he knows now, when we say its bedtime, it is) and is quiet in the night, doesnt shout(unless bad dream etc)/come in our room without permission and generally, when we go to get him up, hes sitting up awake, quiet, and greets us with a big smile....

but then we have been very lucky i think..- was sleeping through at 10 weeks, only actually had one night of him keeping us up all night (when 4 days old) and is (generally) kind and polite..
however, its a bit unnerving that he has started to send me to the naughty step whenever im naughty..- which i do, as i think it shows we're all bound by the same rules...

 

[Tetedelacourse]

Routine's been the key for us.

If that fails, have another kid, that'll probably sort it out

 

[4F]

It is all a power struggle and what you need to to is re-address the issue of who is in charge. Put her to bed at the same time as usual and if she gets up stay calm and put her back to bed however DO NOT not under any circumstances speak to her. This may take an evening or 2 but she will soon get bored and know you mean business.

We had this issue with our eldest daughter at about the same age however we also had a stairgate on her bedroom door and it only took 1 very long night of her shouting and screaming from her bedroom door for her to learn that she would not be getting her own way.

It is hard but it needs to be done as any weakness by you will be fully exploited by the devious little darlings.

 

[domtyler]

Great selection of responses guys, thanks a lot, that's so helpful and I feel a bit less worried now. Last night was a little better although we still had to bring her down again where she fell asleep on here mum at about 8:30pm.

Quite funny when I took her upstairs she ran into her room and went to hide in this little alcove just inside the door but then she saw that I had seen her she said "Oh shoot!" and came out again!

Okay, it was probably something completely different but it definitely sounded just like "Oh shoot!"

 

[Fnaar]

It is all a power struggle and what you need to to is re-address the issue of who is in charge. Put her to bed at the same time as usual and if she gets up stay calm and put her back to bed however DO NOT not under any circumstances speak to her. This may take an evening or 2 but she will soon get bored and know you mean business.

Mine are all a bit older now, but Mrs F used to question my strategy of "settling them down for the night" by repeatedly walking past the bedroom door, doing a selection of silly walks

 

[ComedyPilot]

I have an angelic 10 week old baby girl.

What have I let myself in for....? Gulp.....

 

[Fnaar]

I have an angelic 10 week old baby girl.

What have I let myself in for....? Gulp.....

Just remember the silly walks advice....

 

[ComedyPilot]

 

[ChrisKH]

He is probably developing the perfectly rational and healthy contempt for his peers that I have nursed since the age of six. Good for him!

Well funny you should say that, he prefers to socialise with older children as he takes the lead from his (three year gap) older brother.

 

[yenrod]

My daughter has just turned 2. I see startling similarities between you're noticing and what I am...daughter's boundless energy, kisses and cuddles, tantrums, stringing sentences, the lot.

Seems like you need to get her back into her routine, whether she likes it or not. Be firm about it, or she'll know you'll eventually give in. Kids can smell fear, y'know!

Routine and order is a great thing.

 

[Monkey Boy]

Sounds spot on Dom....don't worry!

My 3.5 year old boy did pretty much the same thing at the same age and I think it stemmed from me going away (on business) from time to time. Routine, routine, routine....a lesson learned pretty quickly. I find now that explaining very clearly what is going to happen goes a long way , i.e. Daddy is going on an aeroplanet to Houston (show map), this is what he'll be doing, I'll phone you every night, will be back on this day with a big pressie, etc, etc.

Now we have a wee 1.5 year old daughter and yesterday the missus went away with one of her mates for one of those spa breaks (due back tomorrow, yay)....and she played up a bit going to bed last night only because her routine was slightly out (mum normally puts her to bed). BUT, I did not change the routine...same script except dad put her to bed.

A big thing we learned was not to reward bad behaviour by giving the little blighters any attention. Instead give them lots of attention for the things they do well / 'right'.....works an absolute treat.

Locking them up in a dark cupboard for a couple of days might help (only kidding).

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Locking them up in a dark cupboard for a couple of days might help

Yes, this works like a charm.


Errm. I mean, so some people who are now in jail have told me.


I'd never condone such behaviour.

 

[4F]

They really are devious little so and so's and they learn from an early age how to "play the game" to get what they want. We were at a loss originally on how to resolve the situation however my wife phoned the health visitor at the local quacks and these people are a wealth of information.

You will probably not want to hear that they now seem to grow up at a very early age as well and my eldest daughter (10) is I am sure not far from puberty (plenty of early signs !). She is already very up and down with her emotions and I get told on a weekly basis that she hates me.

However would not change it for the world

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

She is already very up and down with her emotions and I get told on a weekly basis that she hates me.

10? Really? I get that from my eldest (4 and a quarter)... but it's a bit toned down to "I'm not your friend now" and "I want Mummy to wake me up in the morning"

Bless 'em!!

 

[domtyler]

They really are devious little so and so's and they learn from an early age how to "play the game" to get what they want. We were at a loss originally on how to resolve the situation however my wife phoned the health visitor at the local quacks and these people are a wealth of information.

You will probably not want to hear that they now seem to grow up at a very early age as well and my eldest daughter (10) is I am sure not far from puberty (plenty of early signs !). She is already very up and down with her emotions and I get told on a weekly basis that she hates me.

However would not change it for the world

Well I'm used to getting that [and worse] once a month from the missus anyway!