My little boy is 3 1/2 and loves for Mommy to hold while he goes to sleep. We read a book or two, turn on his Thomas nightlight, start the lullyby music and cover up with his three favorite blankets. Give big hugs and kisses and then I lay my head on his tummy till he goes to sleep. I know it is a little silly, but how can I not when he looks at me and says, "Mommy, hold me!!!" I am taking advantange as I know it will not last forever. What am I going to do if my daughter catches on??? Guess that will be Daddy's job....LOL

I use to do the same with my little guy. He would put his head on my shoulder as I read to him, then he would roll over and go to sleep as I stayed with him (sometimes I fell asleep, too). When he was about five, I would read and then cuddle and kiss calmly and leave, with the light on but turned down. He always knew I would be back to check on him later and turn off his light after he went to sleep. Then after baby girl came, I had to read to him then leave to take care of her. Now that she's older, both kids are in my bed. I read while she nurses (she's a year), then he kisses and hugs both baby and me and goes off to his own bed. I have never had a problem getting him to bed, and I think it's because we always made bedtime pleasurable. He never had to cry it out. Well, once, when I decided to follow the doctor's advice. I still feel guilty for that!!

When mine were little they loved to be held forever too. They're 8 and 6 now, so we usually play a game of some sort, or work on a small project about 30-40 minutes before bed. Then I get to cuddle them each for a few minutes in bed. Then I'm gone.

I didn't always dedicate quiet playtime before bed to them, and I swear they used to get up EVERY single night a million times. Once I gave them that time, they haven't done that since. It's like the million-time get-up thing was a way for them to get more attention from me. I just changed it into something positive.

My 3 1/2 son isn't the cuddle type. His routine goes like this. 8:00 Takes his vitamin, gives daddy hugs and kisses hold my hand walk upstairs brush teeth, turn on night light, say prayers, I turn on lullabys, he hops in bed grabs his bunny 2 hugss and 2 kisses I tuck him in and kiss him on the forehead stroke his hair and say night night precious see you in the morning. As I shut the door I say sweet dreams, I love you. Any variation from this he doesn't let slide. LOL!!

My 10 month old, I hold her in my arms give her her binky tell her I love her and I'll see her in the morning! turn on her lullabys lay her in her bed give her her second binky which she holds tuck her in and blow I kiss at the door.

Then I exhale!!

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

With my 4 and 5 year old I let them pick out one book each. I read to them (sometimes daddy reads to them), then they go brush their teeth, next I pray with them, and then daddy comes in to pray with them. They will not let you get away with not praying with them! We give them hugs and kisses and then lights out.
Next we hope and pray they don't stay awake talking for another hour, or have to go to the bathroom ten times!!

Our ds is 4.5. After dinner we 'hang out'. This usually consists of lying about on the floor, doing a puzzle, reading, or what have you. Sometimes in front of the fireplace. During this time we set the timer, sometimes for 10 minutes, sometimes 20 mins. it just depends on what time we get done with dinner and cleaning up.

When the timer goes off, either dh carries him on his back or I carry him in my arms up the stairs. He is almost 5 and still wants us to do this, and I'm going to until I can't do it anymore!! He's pretty light though. Okay, then we plop him on his bed then he gets off to brush his teeth. He changes into his jammies which he usually cons one of us to help him with although he is perfectly capable of doing it himself!

Depending on how late it is, we read a minimum of two books. The first one is usually this insect book I picked up (it's an adult field guide really) - we read two pages of the insect book a night. I can't find a chapter book that is age appropriate for him (or that I like) so we are trying to get into the habit of 'continuing' a book so we chose the insect book and he loves it. Usually dh reads the bug book which I have no problem with.

Then I read the next book, I really like mice so I buy ds a lot of books with mice (and get a lot of them from the library). His bed is completely full of books. After we read we give him a glass of water, then hugs and kisses and more hugs and kisses from us and to us. Ds is very affectionate which is funny, he didn't start off as a cuddly baby. When we turn the lights off we have to make sure kitty isnt under the bed (she scares him when she prowls around). Then the lights go off, we look at his glow in the dark stars and planets then we give him his flashlight and he looks at books and we leave. Then he calls me back, gives me an extra kiss and then looks at his books again. I don't care how long he stays up looking at his books. Usually he falls asleep with his flashlight on.

at 8:00 pm is bathtime, we laugh, giggle and splash, who cares if the floor gets wet. LOL
8:30 pm is pajamas on, snack time, cup of milk, then brushing teeth.
9:00 PM, we get in mama & daddy's bed and he reads stories to me, yes you read that right, my son reads to me. LOL He loves reading himself making up his own story.
Then we talk about whatever he we want to talk about, we sing song, and snuggle, sometimes we both fall asleep.

My son has his matress next to our bed, its something that makes him feel safe, so when we go to bed, he gets to sleep in his own bed.

I enjoy bedtime, because its our time together.

It usually begins at 7pm...they get a bath. By the time all three of them are bathed it is about 7:30...and we read...usually my 4 year old is the most "needy" (not necessarily bad) at bedtime. I spend the most time with him...usually 2 books...then we cuddle...maybe 10 minutes...and then he goes to sleep. He likes me to leave the light on until he's asleep.