DS keeps wanting betime later - What can I do?

[Jewels06]

My DS seems to continue to try and set his bedtime from Midnight - Noon which means I can't get out of the house until later b/c he takes his first nap after being up for an hour. I have tried putting him down an hour earlier each night and it works for a little while and then a month later he wants midnight again. How do I get him on an earlier schedule and keep him on it? Thanks!

[larzanna]

What if you set your AM alarm for the same time every day and MADE him get up with you. He will be tired and cranky, but then he might be tired earlier at night. I think waking someone who is tired is easier than trying to get a person to sleep who is not tired.

[D_McG]

What have you tried?

Here, we don't sleep past 8am and there is nothing for kids past 8pm. If you're awake, you're in bed and no playing.

If you could elaborate on what you've tried maybe we can trouble shoot.

[One_Girl]

Originally Posted by larzanna

What if you set your AM alarm for the same time every day and MADE him get up with you. He will be tired and cranky, but then he might be tired earlier at night. I think waking someone who is tired is easier than trying to get a person to sleep who is not tired.

I agree with this. I had to switch our bedtime every semester because my first and last classes were at different times. Each time I did it took a couple weeks of grumpiness before dd adjusted, but once she did the sleep schedule stayed. If you sleep in though then it changes his schedule and you may have to start over. Taking away his afternoon nap may also work. When my dd was phasing out of her need for naps she wouldn't sleep until almost 11 at night then would be okay waking up early but would nap at daycare. I had to schedule later classes and use my Christmas break to get her used to sleeping only at night with no nap. Once she got used to that she was fine and very happy all day long.