Comments on: How do I get three kids (ages 5 and under) to bed at the same time? http://momalom.com/2009/06/how-do-i-get-three-kids-ages-5-and-under-to-bed-at-the-same-time/ Sisters | Life | Three Kids Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:49:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Emotional suppleness — Momalom http://momalom.com/2009/06/how-do-i-get-three-kids-ages-5-and-under-to-bed-at-the-same-time/comment-page-1/#comment-3840 Emotional suppleness — Momalom Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:07:59 +0000 http://momalom.com/?p=380#comment-3840 [...] to be mindful of my children’s childhoods while also preparing them for adulthood, about the challenges of getting kids into bed, of keeping calm, of not wanting to be judged or judgmental. And what lies beneath these and much [...] [...] to be mindful of my children’s childhoods while also preparing them for adulthood, about the challenges of getting kids into bed, of keeping calm, of not wanting to be judged or judgmental. And what lies beneath these and much [...]

]]> By: Yes. It really takes that long, to … — Momalom http://momalom.com/2009/06/how-do-i-get-three-kids-ages-5-and-under-to-bed-at-the-same-time/comment-page-1/#comment-548 Yes. It really takes that long, to … — Momalom Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:28:35 +0000 http://momalom.com/?p=380#comment-548 [...] To get all three ready takes a lot of work. And, frankly, I’m too tired to go into the details. But it might go something like this. [...] [...] To get all three ready takes a lot of work. And, frankly, I’m too tired to go into the details. But it might go something like this. [...]

]]> By: Shawna http://momalom.com/2009/06/how-do-i-get-three-kids-ages-5-and-under-to-bed-at-the-same-time/comment-page-1/#comment-220 Shawna Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:18:44 +0000 http://momalom.com/?p=380#comment-220 Hi Jen! Ah the sleeptime. We had three under four at one time too and needed our sanity. I have no advice at this point, all of our children fall asleep on their own now and mostly stay in their beds, unless there is a nighttime potty break or a nightmare. But I remember the struggles to get to this point and the arguments back and forth...to let them cry it out or to comfort them. For us, the best came somewhere in the middle. Sometimes there is a certain amount of wind down time that may require crying, but frantic, no thanks, I needed to comfort them. I also kept reminding myself that it would be unlikely that my children would still require those intense bedtimes when they were teenagers and I would miss these days, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't help at all. As parents, I think we condition our children to certain circumstances without even realizing it and undoing those habits becomes hard. Good luck finding your way. You will, we all do. And gawd, as much as I love my children, I LOVE that quiet time after they all fall asleep. Time to clear my head, think things through, relax and prepare for that chaos that is tomorrow. Hi Jen!

Ah the sleeptime. We had three under four at one time too and needed our sanity. I have no advice at this point, all of our children fall asleep on their own now and mostly stay in their beds, unless there is a nighttime potty break or a nightmare. But I remember the struggles to get to this point and the arguments back and forth…to let them cry it out or to comfort them. For us, the best came somewhere in the middle. Sometimes there is a certain amount of wind down time that may require crying, but frantic, no thanks, I needed to comfort them. I also kept reminding myself that it would be unlikely that my children would still require those intense bedtimes when they were teenagers and I would miss these days, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t help at all.

As parents, I think we condition our children to certain circumstances without even realizing it and undoing those habits becomes hard. Good luck finding your way. You will, we all do.

And gawd, as much as I love my children, I LOVE that quiet time after they all fall asleep. Time to clear my head, think things through, relax and prepare for that chaos that is tomorrow.

]]> By: turnitupmom http://momalom.com/2009/06/how-do-i-get-three-kids-ages-5-and-under-to-bed-at-the-same-time/comment-page-1/#comment-208 turnitupmom Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:03:25 +0000 http://momalom.com/?p=380#comment-208 With only one child, I have no advice. But a lot of sympathy....hope that counts for something?! But make sure when it's all said and done, you take some valuable "me time." phew.... With only one child, I have no advice. But a lot of sympathy….hope that counts for something?! But make sure when it’s all said and done, you take some valuable “me time.” phew….

]]> By: Liz http://momalom.com/2009/06/how-do-i-get-three-kids-ages-5-and-under-to-bed-at-the-same-time/comment-page-1/#comment-205 Liz Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:25:40 +0000 http://momalom.com/?p=380#comment-205 We let both boys cry it out at some point. Ben was easy; I don't think he ever went passed 7 minutes at his longest. Aidan Kai? HA! He cried for over an hour for like 3 nights in a row. I totally doubted we were doing the right thing (for us). By the 4th night, it went down to like a full hour (woo hoo?), and by the 5th we suddenly jumped down to 20 minutes. Night 6? Maybe a minute. It's been great ever since (most nights). He now puts himself to sleep 9 out of 10 times, and even if he wakes up in the middle of the night, manages to get back down on his own. And the bonus? We know that if he does get riled up, it's for a good reason: dirty diaper, lost sleepy rag, teething, not feeling well....Hang in there. Just don't cave or you'll lose any gains! We let both boys cry it out at some point. Ben was easy; I don’t think he ever went passed 7 minutes at his longest. Aidan Kai? HA! He cried for over an hour for like 3 nights in a row. I totally doubted we were doing the right thing (for us). By the 4th night, it went down to like a full hour (woo hoo?), and by the 5th we suddenly jumped down to 20 minutes. Night 6? Maybe a minute. It’s been great ever since (most nights). He now puts himself to sleep 9 out of 10 times, and even if he wakes up in the middle of the night, manages to get back down on his own. And the bonus? We know that if he does get riled up, it’s for a good reason: dirty diaper, lost sleepy rag, teething, not feeling well….Hang in there. Just don’t cave or you’ll lose any gains!

]]> By: jen http://momalom.com/2009/06/how-do-i-get-three-kids-ages-5-and-under-to-bed-at-the-same-time/comment-page-1/#comment-204 jen Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:20:57 +0000 http://momalom.com/?p=380#comment-204 this is a issue of contention in our house too. those little bedtime things that are SUPPOSED to happen. eat up the night. and it's frustrating and i just want kids that i place in their bed and they go to sleep. is that too much to ask? argh. i've come to the conclusion that every kid is different and i just need to figure out what works best for each one. i have no idea what's gonna happen when (and if) #3 comes along. i'm starting to think the idea of putting the girls in the same room might be a good idea. then i don't have to keep them company? i'll let you know if i ever figure this out. maybe 15 years or so? more power to you for making it through the crying out thing. that broke my heart too much and it didn't work for my first. she cried until she got sick and then i had to clean up the bed too. then again ... she's a high maintenance child. good luck tonight. this is a issue of contention in our house too. those little bedtime things that are SUPPOSED to happen. eat up the night. and it’s frustrating and i just want kids that i place in their bed and they go to sleep. is that too much to ask?
argh.
i’ve come to the conclusion that every kid is different and i just need to figure out what works best for each one. i have no idea what’s gonna happen when (and if) #3 comes along. i’m starting to think the idea of putting the girls in the same room might be a good idea. then i don’t have to keep them company?
i’ll let you know if i ever figure this out. maybe 15 years or so?
more power to you for making it through the crying out thing. that broke my heart too much and it didn’t work for my first. she cried until she got sick and then i had to clean up the bed too. then again … she’s a high maintenance child.
good luck tonight.

]]> By: nic @mybottlesup http://momalom.com/2009/06/how-do-i-get-three-kids-ages-5-and-under-to-bed-at-the-same-time/comment-page-1/#comment-203 nic @mybottlesup Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:32:14 +0000 http://momalom.com/?p=380#comment-203 i really needed to read this. and i love how you noted the time, the 20 minute increments of time. and i love that i have only one child. you're incredible. i really needed to read this. and i love how you noted the time, the 20 minute increments of time.

and i love that i have only one child.

you’re incredible.

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