Acting up at bedtime!

[channy3232]

Rocco will be 4 in May. For as long as I can remember, we take him to bed, I read him a few books, my husband gives him hugs and kisses, then he passes him off to me for hugs and kisses and snuggles. Then I take him to bed and cover him up and say goodnight. Same routine. Same thing every night. (Unless my husband is working one of his night shifts, then it's just me putting him to bed) The past few weeks he has just been acting up at bedtime. I will read his books, my husband will take him to give him kisses and he will poke my husband in the face, not let him hug him or kick. My husband will say "ok then, I'll just leave" and then Rocco says NOOO Daddy! Give me hugs and kisses! This will sometimes happen 2 or 3 times until he finally does. My husband brings him to me and the same thing, he will kick and hit, not in a MEAN way, but he thinks he's being playful I guess. We will reprimand him, but at bedtime if we threaten the naughty seat, that only pleases him because it prolongs bedtime. When he finally does give me hugs and kisses and I put him to bed, he will lay down on his blankets and I'll playfully pull them out from under him and he laughs and thinks it's so funny. But then he kicks at me! Again, thinking he's being funny. I've tried to explain to him that it's not funny, it hurts Mommy and it's not acceptable. Again, when he finally puts his legs down and settles, I tell him goodnight and I shut the door and he goes right off to sleep most nights! I just don't know what to do anymore! He occasionally does this other places too, but it's really been bad at bedtime lately.

 

[RachA]

I would of thought that he's trying to put off going to bed as long as possible. Our eldest who is 5 can be a bit like this. We will put him to bed and then all of a sudden he's realise that he: hasn't read his bible, said his prayers, got any water, got enough of his friends (toys) in bed with him, hasn't read his school book, hasn't done his homework. etc lol.

The way i would deal with it is to be quite harsh and just say 'night' and offer the hugs and kisses. If he doesn't give them then say 'no, we've offered you them once and you were being silly, night night' and then leave. It won't take him long to realise that when he messes about he misses out.

 

[seoj]

I would agree- give him the chance for hugs and snuggles, and make it clear... I would prob give him one "gemme" (i.e. one more chance after you warn him like say, we are offering hugs now, but if you don't want them then you miss out)- then that is it. I would guess he'd figure it out real quick you mean business. Sounds like he's just trying to prolong bedtime and using any tactic he can Smart cookie.

tbh- my SD used to be the QUEEN of delaying bedtime... we just had to lay down the lay and stick to it. Although not always so easy! On her or us. But it got better in time. Most likely it's just a phase and will pass soon