i am having trouble getting me 4yr old daughter to go to bed and sleep before midnight..?

What time does she wake up in the morning? Please click add details to your question and answer this question and I'll check back for the answer and be able to give a full answer, okay?

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EDIT: Sounds like you have a great routine!! Is she getting out of the bed or just not going to sleep?

If she's getting up then she's testing you and you'll need to win the battle of wills! It's frustrating but you have to do it. The first time she gets up, march her back to bed and explain that she has to stay in her bed. Tell her it is naughty to get out of bed when mommy says it's night-night time. If she gets up again, don't talk to her, just silently walk her back to bed and then leave the room. Do this each time she gets up. Showing anger is getting a reaction and that can be gratifying for her...so no reaction, just silently go about the business of getting her back in bed. Also, don't pick her up...because that's a form of attn as well...take her hand and walk her back to bed. Keep doing this, repeating it over and over, until she gets the message that you aren't going to give in, the rules been set and she must obey you. This could be an ongoing thing for several days...but the message will eventually get through and you will win the war...if you're consistent.

If she simply won't go to sleep, but stays in bed - leave her there. She'll fall asleep eventually...and while you may feel badly, it's not punishment, it's still good for her because while she may not be getting 'sleep' she's still getting rest! :)

Also, I don't know what time you're putting her to bed but it could be that she's staying up too late and getting overtired. So if she's going to bed much past 9, I'd make it a bit earlier. But putting my own timeline on the routine you've set, this may not be the case.

Oh...and she's 4, that's too old for the bottle, so if it's a 'bottle' I'd get rid of it. But it sounds like it's a "water" bottle, as in 'squirt' or twist top that you get in the store. Even so, I wouldn't do that...it gives her something to think about and concentrate on...I did it for my daughter for a while and she just kept picking up the bottle, sitting up for sips, etc. I took it away and she went to sleep, with nothing else to do. I did and you can too, give her a drink before putting her to bed (not too much if you want to ward off the "I have to go potty" excuse, so just a sip for thirst) and leave it at that.

Good luck to you!!! (And your sweet children! :)

Your routine sounds good. Definitely don't let her nap during the day. My sister in law had this problem too, and she said for about 2 weeks straight she had to just sit at the top of the stairs and tell her son to go back to bed. I suggest putting her in bed, cuddles, story, whatever. The first time she gets up say "It's bed time now, go to sleep". The following times she gets up say NOTHING, just pick her up and put her in bed. Keep repeating until she gets the message you're not going to back down. May take a few days, but she will get the point eventually if you're consistent. She's obviously testing the boundaries here. She still needs about 12 hours of sleep, so try to let her go that long. I've read several books that say that many times an EARLIER bed time helps. Doesn't make sense, but my 4 year old is in bed at 7:30 every night and sleeps til 7:30 am. every day. Good luck!

Is she getting out of the bed or just not going to sleep?

If she's getting up then you need to start the battle of wills, and win. Everytime she gets up, march her little behind back to bed and explain that she must stay in her bed, and that you will not tolerate the behavior. You might even set a goal chart with her - a sticker for every night that she does not get up, and after so many stickers she can get a small prize or something.

If she simply won't go to sleep, but stays in bed - not much you can do there. Some kids are night owls by nature. Make sure she is up early, and hope the cycle changes.

she is prob getting over tired and isnt being able to go to sleep easily. One thing you can try, Take her to the park early in the evening/late afternoon. Allow her to run til she cant run anymore. and then go for an drive and get her to sleep in the car before you get home.

Also she may be suffering from insomonia, if she is not sleeping well then you prob should take her to the doc. I know that sometimes when there are huge changes in an childs life they will get stressed out and can mess with an childs routine.

I would analize what has been going on, she very likley could be having an medical problem.

Good Luck

I have a 3yr and a 2yr old and the 3yr old is a boy but they share a room he'll go right to sleep, but the 2yr old goes to bed at 7 or 8 but she never fell asleep to they share a room the 3yr old is a hard sleeper so i just put the 2yr old in her crib and shut the door and ignore her screaming and leave water there.

I have a 5yr old who we have the same issues with. During her bath I put a few drops of Lavender oil in her bath water. After she gets out I put 2 drops per foot of Clary Sage on the bottom of her feet rubbing it all over her feet. You can find essential oils at most health food stores or places like Wild Oats. A good book to have on hand for the uses of essential oils is Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley.

There is a process when applying essential oils to your feet, you must put the drops in the hand that coordinates with the foot you are applying it to, using your index finger (remove all rings watches etc) rub it about three times in a clockwise circle, then apply to the foot. Do the same for the other foot, but use the other hand. The oils enter their body in about 30 seconds. I know this sounds weird, but the book explains the reasoning behind it all. Good luck!

I completly understand I am a mother of 6.

try waking her up at 6:00 a.m. giving her a bath, feed her and take her for some play time. get her tired enought to take a nap around noon. only let her sleep for 1 hour, then wake her up again.

Eventualy she will get use to waking up early ad going to be earlier.

The key is to get her tired in the morning and giving her a nap before noon. this way she will think her body is tired by 8 p.m. oh and take that bottle away she is way to big.

Ohhh, i no wat its like, and not making it sound worse but my 7 year old sister does that..

She can go to bed at 7 but doesnt go to sleep until like 12.

My mum just bribes her and tells her that if she goes to bed when she is told and goes to sleep within 10 min for 3 days mum will buy her something. She hardly ever does it, maybe 1 or 2 times and she being doing it for about a year!

Maybe just some bribery!!!

Good luck with it all

.x

Try rubbing her back to fall asleep. I know you might not want to get into this habit but I know that my son will purposely find a way to stay awake. Also I have begun telling my son that he needs to lay still and close his eyes. Usually if he lays still and his eyes are closed he will fall asleep. I would think they are tired but that they don't want to miss any action so they purposefully keep themselves awake.

go back to the dinner routine and stick with it for as long as it takes. You in a battle of the wills with her so stay strong. Also try melatonin pill an hour before bedtime. Its natural and you can get it at any health food store. It really works to help put you to sleep.