Susan Epstein, Parent Coach's Answers To Bedtime Problems

Do you dread bedtime? Does your child call to you- Remove the TV's from your child's bedroom.
after you have already read 3 stories, plus 2 and- Buy a portable timer.
checked for monsters and lined up the stuffed animals- Buy or make a special pillow or stuffed toy-
and made sure that the door was ajar in exactly theTonight:
correct position to your child's specifications? Does- Before dinner, tell your child that there will be a new
your child get out of bed over and over until you arebedtime plan. Give them the pillow or stuffed animal
both exhausted and your child is crying?and tell them that this is their very own Magical
Does your child demand that you lie down with herProtection. It keeps monsters out of kid's rooms and
him? And stay there until your child falls asleep? Dohelps kids get comfy and fall asleep very fast.
you find yourself drifting off and waking up two hours- 10 minutes before bedtime, tell you child they get to
later in your child's bed? Or worse, when you try tochoose 2 to 3 stories, their choice, but no more. After
sneak out, does your child wake up and demand thatyou read each story repeat "ok that was number_
you return? Or do you wake up in your own bed andstory we have _ left."
notice the extra little body sleeping peaceful beside- Tuck your child in. Tell your child that you have a
you?timer and are going to set the timer to go off in 5
If any of this sounds familiar then you are probablyminutes and that you are going to return and make
waking up exhausted in the morning, dragging yourselfsure that the Magical Protector is doing his/her job.
through your day and dreading this evening when it all- When you go back, reassure your child that s/he is
starts again.safe and tell them you will be back again in 6 minutes.
How would you like to be able to tuck your child intoKeep going back and start spacing out the checking.
bed with a night time kiss and have the rest of the- If your child gets out of bed, calmly walk him/her
night for you? And, how would you like to wake upback to bed and repeat from the beginning.
feeling rested and refreshed the next morning?- If your child ends up in your bed same drill. (I know
And how would you like to have enough energy toyou are tired!) Do it anyway.
make it through your day without needing a nap? AndThe average time it takes to retrain your child is about
look forward to bedtime with your child?3 days. Sometimes more and sometimes less. The
Follow these instructions:less you give in the quicker your successs will be and
Today:the more rested and peaceful you will feel!