Babysitting problems having to do with bedtime!?

Question

Ok, here's how it started:

All the kids were downstairs watching tv, and it became time for the youngest child, a three year old, to be put to bed. I told her we are going up to bed, and she started crying, and got upset, and wanted her mom and dad. I tried to pick her up, but she backed away and cried harder. I kept telling her that we have to go upstairs now.

After about two minutes of her crying, I picked her up despite her protests, and took her upstairs. She screamed the whole way. We got to her room. I put her on her bed, (she sleeps in a bed, not a crib), and she just jumped off and ran for the door. I knew if she got out, she'd just go back downstairs. So I held the door shut, while she turned the doorknob and trieed to get back out. All this time she is crying and screaming, and I tried to talk to her.

After about 15 minutes of us in her room, she calmed down, and I talked to her, and she went to sleep. Are there any tips to get her to stop crying?

Answer 1

you did the right thing, u cant stop REALY  them from cryin' just ignore it as much as possible, but u can sing songs talk to he/she until they have calmed down do sotin to distract them

Answer 2

Yeah don't bar the door.  A child can get hurt trying to open the door you are barring.  Who would it have hurt if you had to go back downstairs and take her back upstairs to bed?  THAT is what you should have done had she gotten out.  Instead you made her a prisioner and acted as much like a 3 year old as the 3 year old.

Answer 3

TRY 2 READ HER STORIES.......... OR SING SONGS TELL A STORY WITH HER NAMED IN IT WILL LET HER BE THE PRINCESSES  WHEN YOU ABOUT 2 TELL HER IT TIME 4 BED TELL HER IT TIME 2 GO SEE THE BUNNY HORSE CAT DOG U NO WHAT EVER HER FAVORITE ANIMAL IS SHE GOING 2 SAY WHERE ARE THEY TAKE HER 2 HER ROOM PUT HER IN THE BED AND TELL HER SHE HAS 2 CLOSED HER EYES THEN STAR TELLING HER THE STORY U WANT JUST KEEP HER INTERESTING HER QUESTIONS AS YOU TELL THE STORY.............................. GOOD LUCK

Answer 4

When my three year old is upset like that I ask if he is hurting,(of course he is not, but he likes the attention.)  Then I start singing songs.  Usually after three or four songs he's calmed down.  

Good luck.

Answer 5

giving the child control teaches them that they don't have to listen when not given a choice. bad  road to start them on at three. giving them attention for crying is a bad idea because it teaches them to cry to get what they want.  to avoid it say something like  let's go upstairs and read a story together or play a game. make it a game in which she lays down in bed and closes her eyes and  when she opens them she has to figure out where you hid something in the room without getting up (she must guess). each time she closes her eyes make her wait longer to open them to guess.  the waiting will lull her without her realizing  she's being put to sleep.  once she is very calm and quiet tuck her in and sing softly while running your fingers gently across her forehead.  out. like. a. light.

Answer 6

Shutting the door is not going to solve the issue.  Tell her that you will read her a book before bedtime if she doesn't cry when it's time to go to bed.  That is a positive reinforcement.  Shutting the door is negative.

Answer 7

In my experience, I've always resorted to giving the children choices.  These choices will help them take control, but you really win in the end because you gave them the choices to pick from.  

Trying something like this:  Okay, its just about time for bed, would you like to stay up for a few more minutes and then have me read you a story, or do you want to just read the story right away?

This might make her happy since she has a say in the matter.  It really works out well for me at my camp!

Also, giving younger children a warning (a good one) - like, "5 more minutes until bedtime" or showing them the big hand on a clock, and saying "When that hand reaches the number ___ we will be getting ready for bed".  That will help out a lot because they won't feel so controlled and pressured.  Sometimes, transitions are really hard for them.

Answer 8

How about setting a timer beforehand and explaining when it goes off it's time to go upstairs. Reset the timer for 15 minutes and read a bedtime story (or make one up that she can participate in) and do that until timer goes off. Then tuck her in and reassure her that when she wakes up in the morning her parents will be there.

Answer 9

Next time, let her know that in five minutes it will be time for bed.  Maybe sit with her and cuddle and get her ready to go with you.  When the five minutes are up, tell her she can pick out a story that you'll ready to her once she's brushed her teeth and in bed.  (Use funny voices to tell the story.  Ask her questions about the picture, etc.)  Once it's lights out, tell her goodnight, sweet dreams and ask her what she's going to dream about.  If she can't think of anything, pick something from the book or a special thing she did that day.