my son will not go to bed!!

hello, my four year old son is very active. he stays on the move all day. he usually is up around 8am and the child doesnt go to sleep until around 11 or 11:30 pm!! i put him to bed at 8pm and its a constant fight with us. he calls me in for a hug or he needs a drink or he has to pee. just anything. i should say that the only way he lays in his bed at all is to leave his tv on. i think that might be a problem but he is terrified of being in there without it he has a night light but that doesnt help.  he has been spoiled for the longest time he slept with me but for the last few months he sleeps in his bed. he doesnt really complain about being in his bed he just won BE STILL and go to sleep! help please?

[aid821]

A couple of things, i feel you should perhaps remove the TV from his room as he is too young to have a TV in his room at his age. Also, set some boundaries for this time of night for eg: when putting him to bed at 8pm, let him know your going to come in 3 times for whatever may occur, then over time reduce it to 2, then 1.

Let him know this will be happening and be stick with it and be firm and don't give in. It might be worth cutting fluids say after 7 and make sure he goes to the toilet before he goes in to bed (which i'm sure you already do).

Lastly, Increase the dialogue as it gets towards 8pm with things like, "Well (insert name here :p) it's time for bed soon and your going to go to sleep without mummy having to come in aren't you" or "mummy's only coming into your room 2 times now" etc

I know it sound a little corny, all the best :)

[liro22]

ok..thanks! i'm gonna give it a try!