Too Tired to Fight This Battle Tonight

So OJ has been in his "Big Boys Bed" for just over a week now and every night has been a battle to get him to settle down and go to sleep. His bedtime routine hasn't changed, only the amount of bedtime stories he gets. 

Every night we finish having tea and head straight upstairs to tidy up put clothes away etc and have a bath. Depending on the kids mood they either have a long bath if they're happy and playing happily together or a short bath if either of them is grumpy cranky or winding the other one up. Then it's pj time, OJ usually has a run around and a bounce on our bed to burn of the last bits of energy before bed. Then I get them their last drink of the night while I read them a story. AJ only has the attention span for one story, so it's usually one story then I (breast) feed her and out her down. Then a million and ten more stories for OJ. Honestly I could read all night, every book in the house, to OJ and he wouldn't get bored. I usually go for about 5/6. Them I settle him down with his thomas and say good night give him a kiss and a cuddle and tuck him in. I then leave the room and turn off the light, leaving the landing light on.

As soon as I get downstairs it starts. Either crying or jumping out of bed and standing at the top of the stairs throwing toys down stairs. I go up and put him back in bed, umpteen times and this becomes a game, so I ignore him.

I've come to bed later on after ignoring him and found him in various places and positions.

From being asleep at the top of the stairs, or behind the bedroom door with it closed, in our bed, in his bed but with his head on the floor, even curled up in a corner. Only once have I found him as I've left him.

Tonight was no different. After reading him 5 bedtime stories. I went downstairs and preceded to watch my programmes. At first there was tears, then shouting, then running round the room, bouncing on or bed, chucking this down the stairs, then just sitting at the top chattering to himself. At one point I thought he'd fallen asleep as it had gone quiet, until he started shouting daddy's car.

I was tired, I wanted to go to bed myself. Even though it was 8.30pm. In the end I locked and tidied up and have in and went to bed. He climbed in with me. I sang to him, talked to him, cuddled him and even pretended to be asleep myself. It took another hour before he finally stopped fighting sleep. And now the little monkey is snoring his head off next to me. Now the dilemma is do I move him to his own bed and risk waking him or do I leave him be. I know the answer is leave him be, I'm too tired to fight this battle tonight.

I love my little monkey man!

Vic and the Jones's wish you good night, sleep tight! 

xxx