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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
bed time behavior
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
bed time behavior
by camel, Dec 18, 2001 12:00AM
My 2 1/2 year old refuses to go to bed almost every night. He seems willing to go to bed but immediately gets back up and begins to throw things and scream at the top of his lungs for up to 2 hours at a time. If all things are removed from his grasp he will go looking for things to throw or will kick the walls or doors, me or the bed. Whatever is within reach. He has already broken several lamps in his room and even in the living room. Time out does not work at bedtime. This behavior happens whether he is tired or not but worsens when he is tired. The rest of the day he is a happy, energetic, curious child and will cooperate especially when he hears an explanation of why something is going to happen or why something cannot happen. Reasoning does not work at bedtime. HELP! I am exhausted. and pregnant with my 3rd child so cannot fight him when he refuses to co-operate. His Dad works nights so is not available to help at bedtime.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Dec 18, 2001 12:00AM
, Dec 18, 2001 12:00AM
My guess is that your son is frightened at bedtime, and his behavior keeps him engaged with you. I'm assuming he's in a regular bed, not a crib. Too often parents remove children from cribs much too early in their lives, before they have the impulse control to remain in a bed. You might be wise to seek a consultation with a pediatric behavioral health clinician, because the specifics of the bedtime routine/procedure are going to be important in solving this. I don't want to offer any facile suggestions in the absence of more complete knowledge of the situation. You might also take a look at the book Solving Your Child's Sleep Problems (Ferber).
Member Comments (2)
by mead's mom, Feb 15, 2002 12:00AM
You might try elimanting the daily nap. My daughter is 2 3/4 and never wanted to sleep. We would put her down for bed around 830 and she still be awake at 11pm. When I elminated the nap, within 2 weeks she was going to bed between 9-930. After 6 weeks she, she sometimes tells me she wants to go bed between 830 & 9pm. Still denies she not tired,but now stays in bed and is usually asleep within 10-15 minutes. Good Luck.
