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Stalling at bedtime

Tips for getting your kids to bed

By
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Originally published in Today's Parent September 2010

The dream: After your four-year-old’s bath, you brush his teeth, put on his PJs, and read him a story. One story. Then you give him a cuddle and a kiss, turn out the light and go downstairs. Good night. The end.

The reality: After your four-year-old’s bath, he says he’s hungry. You get him a snack. You brush his teeth. He doesn’t like the PJs you picked out for him. You find him some other ones. You read a story. He wants another one. You finally give him a cuddle and a kiss, turn out the light — and before you can leave the room he says: “I need a drink of water.” After you get him a drink, he says, “I have to pee.” You walk him to the bathroom and back to bed. You give him another cuddle and kiss, turn out the light and go downstairs... Five minutes later, you hear little footsteps approaching. “I forgot to say good night to the dog.”

Sound familiar? A 2006 study by Kurt Freeman of Oregon Health and Science University showed that about a quarter of children aged one to five will actively resist bedtime by calling out from or leaving the bedroom after being put to bed. So yes, it’s common.

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