Need help with a routine

[cutekid]

Hello all. I have an almost three year old. From the day I brought him from the hospital I set up a night and nap routine to initiate sleep. My DS and I have both been out of routine since my DF went to work on a second shift job. Things are so bad that the past three nights he's not gone to bed before 1AM. Yes, a routine is very important. He's the classic book child, that when overtired just gets wound up and he gets VERY difficult to settle down.

Now, for the question.
Traditionally, its been
Dinner, Bath, Run around for 10 minutes, PJ's, Bathroom (Tooth brushing and potty), Get in bed, read book and Nurse.


I was wondering, if I should just cut out the run around time, and combine the time in the bathroom (Bath,PJ's, Potty, and Toothbrush) and go straight to bed.

I will be posting this night time routine in the Bathroom for him to look at follow. I will be taking the poster with us when we move. I am hoping this will help transitioning.

I really would like to start encouraging him to go to sleep own his on. Esspeciallly on those nights that he doesn't go to sleep while nursing. Such as he has to stay in bed. I have a plan for that, but tonight he went to sleep nursing

[CaraNicole]

i would cut the run around time...maybe your ds is getting to hyped up from it?

[sarbear]

Each step of the routine is supposed to be calming and quiet as I understand it... I would give him the run around time before you start the routine.

[nylecoj]

What about substituting quiet play time in a dim room instead of running around? Otherwise, it might be easiest for him if you remove that part of his routine.

[cutekid]

I am just nixing the run around time. He'll be getting dressed in the bathroom and going from the bathroom straight to bed.

Denise

[BathrobeGoddess]

moving to childhood

[bdavis337]

Yep, end the run-around time. We have to have early bathtime if the boys are going to get running around time afterwards. Waaay early bathtime!