[Betelnut]

I put my 27 month old to bed around 7:45 and leave the room, latching the door. I can hear her moving around her room and playing. Sometimes she really makes a mess--her dirty clothes strewn all over, all the books pulled from the shelf, all the toys out of the toy box! She also LOVES to take off her pull-up or diaper. "So funny!"--not! She will fall asleep anywhere in the room--rarely her bed!

I check on her about twice to make sure she is still breathing, but I've found that even that delays her going to sleep. Going in the room actually wakes her more up and disrupts her. If she is really, really upset and crying, I will go in and comfort her, but she's used to the setup now and doesn't do this too much (except for a minute or two when I say, "Time for night night.")

The long summer hours/light keep her up later--it seems like she falls asleep around 8:45 or 9:00 but if it is overcast or stormy outside she falls asleep earlier. I'm considering getting better drapes or some sort of darkening material for the windows!

Ideas:

Don't keep going in the room;
Don't sweat it if your kid moves around the room and plays;
Don't sweat it if your kid falls asleep on the carpet (my daughter does this 4 out of 5 times);
Don't talk to him/her if you do go in the room--just quietly put him/her back into bed;
The less interaction the better--a matter of fact attitude is best;
Make the room really dark (unless that scares him/her);
Routine, of course, is vital (I'm sure you are doing this);
Use a gate or latch the door so he/she can't get out;
Explain the whys but remember--we rule! We are the parents!


Good luck!