Playing games at bedtime

Over the past few nights, our 2.5 year old daughter tells us that she has to go to the bathroom a few times each night when we are trying to put her to sleep. When we do take her to the bathroom, she doesn't go and tell us she is done going. We put her back to bed and she repeats this.  She doesn't have any of the symptoms of a UTI except for the fact that we don't know if she has the urge to go but doesn't have to or that she is trully playing a game.  If it is a game, any suggestions for putting an end to it? Is this common? Thanks!!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

I'd hesitate to call this behavior a game, because your daughter probably doesn't regard it quite that way. But I understand what you mean. Set a firm limit with her - i.e., that she will have the opportunity to use the bathroom just prior to bedtime, and that after that her 'job' is to remain in bed. Be firm, don't alter the routine, and she'll adjust. If you accomodate the frequent requests, she'll persist in the behavior. (Of course, occasionally you'll have to make an exception, but when her bedtime pattern is settled it'll become clear when the exceptions should occur.)