This is a new problem that's been developing over the past few weeks. We put ds to bed at 8pm and within a few minutes he's up. Either he has to go potty or needs a drink or says he's just not tired. We make sure he uses the bathroom before bed and I've even been putting a drink in his room with him. He'll stay in his room sometimes and just play, but last night he was still up at 10pm with all the toys out of his closet! It's starting to affect his ability to get up in the morning, not to mention that it's driving dh and me nuts. Anyone else deal with this?

We started the ticket pass to get out of your room. We use a deck of cards Jacks or Kings. When they get tucked in they are given 2 cards. They are told if they need to get up you have to call us. We will then go in and access the situation and if they get a drink or go potty they have to give up one card. When the last pass is used they are tucked in and told they can not get up again.

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Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

IMO, I think it is consistancy...

Make sure and explain before bed, go pee, have a drink ( maybe put a small dixie cup on night stand )

Then, when he gets up, say nothing but "it's bedtime."

when he gets up again "it's bedtime"

on and on and on and on... but the key is to say nothing else, don't get angry or frusterated, that is what they want ( attention)

if he has a nap during the day, prob cut that out, he might not be tired.

We go through this with my dd and honestly, you give her an inch she will take a MILE for the next week...

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married 8 years to a crazy Brit, mommy to a banana, she is 4 and a pineapple who is 1 year, mommy to 3 ~angel~ babies

WE just went through this with my 5 year old about a month ago. We don't have toys in the kids rooms. Just books! But his room is decorated in Cars theme with posters and comforter and things. We have played a lullaby cd for him since he was a baby. When he started this need a drink and etc. stuff we would go up and keep telling him he had to go to bed that it was night time and he had to sleep to get the grumpies out. We have always been very consistent with him he has his whole routine of 8 o'clock take his vitamin, brush teeth,say prayers, read a book and lights out, so I guess it's just a stage. Any how, when he kept getting up each night I would go up and tell him if he got up again we would take something away. He would get up and we would take a poster, if he got up again something else would go. The next night I told him if he stays in his bed then I would return something, if he got up something else would come out. After about 3 nights of this it was over. I don't think the pass thing would work for us that just to him would just mean he has permission to get up 2 times! JMO! Hope you find something that works! I don't know about you, but I look at 8 o'clock as the end of my work day and time to unwind with dh.

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

Our 2 year old is already doing this! We finally decided that everytime he came out of his room, we'd scoop him up, put him back in bed, kiss him and say "goodnight". He tried it 3 or 4 times every night for about 3 nights but after that, I guess he realized we were serious. I agree to the previous post that said consistency is key. Good luck.

My first question would be does he still take a nap? If so, you probably need to cut that out.

If not, I would offer him some type of reward if he stays in the bed. My daughter has a rewards chart and gets a magnet on her chart if she does a good job at bedtime (including staying in your bed!).

I agree about the nap. If my 4.5 year old takes a nap he has a very hard time going to sleep.

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Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
Mommy to Riley (2000) and Wyatt (2003)

Nope, he gave up naps about 1 1/2 years ago. Nothing in the routine has changed. I think he just wants attention or thinks he missing something or whatever 5 year olds think. I don't remember myself. I guess we'll just keep putting him back until he gets the message!