https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 20:59:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine/page/2#post-2482924 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 11:34:41 +0000 JoJoGirl 2482924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Put blankets on LO, rub her back for a minute, hold her hand. Start to walk away. She usually shouts "ONE LAST MINUTE, PLEASE!". I walk back to bed, rub her back again. Walk away finally and say "good night! I love you! See you tomorrow!" as I'm walking then "Love you!" one last time before I close the door. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine/page/2#post-2482908 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 11:27:27 +0000 ballerinabee 2482908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm stuck in the camp of having to lay with DS until he falls asleep or he loses his mind. He's 4, and still has his pacis (his "duck duck" - wubanub - and "ti ti" - regular paci). </p> <p>I wish I could break him of both habits, but he's going through a tough emotional time with the divorce so I'm loathe to force a change on him. That said, it's exhausting and I get nothing done in the evenings because 6 out of 7, I fall asleep in his bed and wake up sore and miserable in the middle of the night. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine/page/2#post-2482466 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 07:37:20 +0000 Charm54 2482466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As we are getting ready to leave the room...<br /> "Okay, one more story!"<br /> Read story<br /> Turn off the light<br /> Talk for a minute or two<br /> "Mommy and Daddy love you - sweet dreams!"<br /> Hug and a kiss and out the door</p> <p>There are rarely any tears. If there are, it's usually because she's overtired so I'll go back in once more for a hug and kiss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine/page/2#post-2482463 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 07:32:43 +0000 pastemoo 2482463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: that's rough. We've had a lot of routine challenges lately. I think you're doing the right thing, just keep your consistent routine and walk out. And when she follows put her back in. Eventually it will get better. This is definitely a "testing limits" phase for us, too.</p> <p>Also what I put above is not the bedtime routine, just the last moment of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2482116 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 19:46:46 +0000 Canoli 2482116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: we still do this with our 22 month old!!!! He is my second and I swore I would not do it and he would "learn" how to fall asleep on his own. Yeah, at the end of the night mama just wants to sit on her behind and relax and the quickest way to that wins. They won't want to be rocked forever, right?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2482067 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 19:22:31 +0000 LilSprinkles 2482067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kiss him, say goodnight and I love you, and leave the room. I've been doing that since he was born, and we've never had any issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2482062 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 19:13:55 +0000 MrsRoo 2482062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After our bedtime routine (prayers, 2 books, 2 songs) I tuck her in and tuck in her stuffed animal and tell her stuffed friend to keep her company if she wakes up and to take care of my girl while shes sleeping. Then I leave. </p> <p>We were in the stay in the room until she falls asleep club until 2 weeks ago when I just couldn't take it anymore. It's been 15 nights of this routine and so far it's working really well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2482049 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 19:00:48 +0000 NovBaby1112 2482049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We read a book or two, I tuck her in, we talk about what we are going to dream about and what we are doing tomorrow...then I just kiss her and leave and tell her I'll be back in 20 minutes to check on her. If she comes out, I threaten to close the door lol, so she knows not to do it again bc she hates the door shut </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2482019 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:39:39 +0000 Portboston 2482019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our routine of my 7.5 month old:</p> <p>Nurse<br /> medicine (reflux)<br /> fresh diaper<br /> hot towel treatment (by dad)<br /> massage (by mom)<br /> jammies<br /> Sleep sack<br /> white noise on, lights off</p> <p>I hold him on my chest, tell him I love him and its time for him to rest his body now so we can play tomorrow &amp; give him a kiss. I do a few deep breaths (to try and calm him if he is upset but he usually isn't), wait for him to rub his eyes or bury his face in my chest, then lay him in his crib and say love you one more time, then walk out! (We used a sleep consultant and she recommended doing that whole breathing thing. I don't really know if it makes a difference but supposedly our anxiety can transfer to them so I figure it can't hurt!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2482016 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:34:38 +0000 lovehoneybee 2482016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As I'm leaving I say "Have a good sleep sweet pea, I love you to the moon and the stars and Saturn and back! I'll see you in the morning!" and he says it back and I close the door. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2482013 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:32:23 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2482013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I count to 12 while rubbing his back and then say good night. (Twelve was his pick...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481977 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:55:05 +0000 pastemoo 2481977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Um... I just walk out and say goodnight, and I close the door and he say, "No, I want it open, mommy" and I open it. And 5 minutes later he gets up to pee or whatever, and I say "wash your hands and go back to bed" and he does...<br /> Of all the sleeping challenges we have had, bedtime itself has never been hard even though it stresses the F out of me. That's my one luckiest thing, I think. Good bedtimes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481967 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:49:27 +0000 sarac 2481967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I snuggle my four year old to sleep. We talk about our day, exchange I love yous, etc. Then we snuggle up. I leave when she's asleep. My husband and I take turns and she really looks forward to it each night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481960 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:44:20 +0000 Autumnmama79 2481960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: When she was younger I would say I'm going to do the dishes and thats that. I would be kind of grumpy about it so she didn't think I was sneaking off to do something fun. Nope, mummy has chores too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481950 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:36:21 +0000 lioneyes 2481950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>since he was 6 weeks old and we started the routine, we would always do diaper change/bottle and books in the chair/put on the swaddle and then turn out the light together before laying him down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481873 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:31:03 +0000 mediagirl 2481873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: @JoyfulKiwi: @erinbaderin: things used to be great! We have had the same routine (slightly changed by age changes) since she was 3mo old. We read 3 books. Then Daddy reads 3 books. Then I come back to snuggle, read one final book, talk about her day and either tuck her in or let her sit there and read/play until she falls asleep. </p> <p>Now she doesn't want me to leave. I tell her, "I'm going to go wash my face and brush my teeth. I'll come back and check on you after I'm done." She flips out. She just doesn't want me to leave. I've tried rubbing her back and laying with her and that doesn't work either. Recently she has gotten herself all worked up, follows me out of the room, flips out when I tell her she will lose privileges if she doesn't go back to her room. Then she freaks out until we come in, give her a hug, carry her to bed, tuck her in again and let her tell us what just happened. It's frustrating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481854 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:19:52 +0000 Alba4 2481854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We leave while he is awake. 2 books, 2 songs in crib, goodnight we love you, and we leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481851 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:15:18 +0000 mfa_lady 2481851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We plop her in the crib and then hand her all her stuff--first her blanket, then about five stuffed animals in a row. She lets us lay the blanket over her legs, then she grabs the first stuffed animal in the rotation (her favorite) then acknowledges the rest. Hahaha. Then, we say night night and we love you and we leave. (And by we, I mean whichever one of us is doing bedtime that night. Only one at a time!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481842 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:09:24 +0000 Mamaof2 2481842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: how about telling her you are going to do XYZ and then you will check on her - he first few times come back within 60 seconds so she believes you and slowly make it longer.<br /> I use to do that with DS - tell him I would be back after lunches and slowly but surely he was asleep by the time I came back </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481838 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:07:11 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2481838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: we do the "talk about our day" ritual that @erinbaderin: wrote about. Then we pay his back for 5 minutes, tell him what we're going to do, and ask if he wants us to come check on him in a few minutes. He had a rough time letting us leave at around 3 years old. We'd tell him what we were doing so he could listen &amp; know we were still around (like hearing the shower running), as an incentive (Mommy is finishing making cookies for tomorrow), or to show him nothing good is happening (Dad is going to read his book). We started offering to come back as a way to keep him on bed. He always asks us to check on him, but he's almost always asleep in a few minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481837 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:06:37 +0000 lemondrop 2481837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We read a couple books, turn on a nightlight and a small bedside lamp, tell him goodnight and leave. </p> <p>Little brother goes to bed right after the stories too, he goes in the crib, gets a blanket and a goodnight and a shut door since he's a light sleeper. He will fuss for about 5 minutes, then usually falls asleep. </p> <p>Occasionally we have a do over if they aren't ready to sleep, but we don't camp out in their rooms while falling asleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481831 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:03:44 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2481831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We say good night kiss him about 10 times and leave. He screams. But stops eventually and sleeps. Hoping it's a phase.... The longer we stay he worse it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481826 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:59:37 +0000 twodoghouse 2481826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nurse them both to sleep. DH grabs one off my lap, then we both lay them down as carefully as possible and tiptoe out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481811 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:49:48 +0000 daniellemybelle 2481811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say, "Night, night! Sleep tight! Love you!" and shut the door. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481807 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:47:48 +0000 Andrea 2481807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tell them both "I love you and good night". Then I leave. My 5 year old stays up to read for a bit. My 3 year old passes out within a few minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481764 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:25:20 +0000 kodybear 2481764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we have a set routine. for our 3yo, after getting ready for bed, we read 3 books (always 3! no more than that), she goes to her bed, i give her her blankets, say goodnight, love you, see you tomorrow and leave. our 19mo is easier, we just put him in his crib and say goodnight, love you, and leave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481738 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:10:17 +0000 gingerbebe 2481738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH handles bedtime 99% of the time and we've pretty much had the exact same routine for naps and bedtime forever.</p> <p>DS puts DS in his sleepsack, carries him over to me wherever I am in the house. I say "night night S, Mommy loves you" and wave bye bye. He waves back and starts making a fake crying face because he knows this means its bedtime. DH turns off the lights in the hallway outside DS' room and in his bedroom, turns on the white noise machine and humidifier, and sings him the same 2 songs every night (Jesus Loves Me twice, then the Doxology once). Then he lays DS down in his crib, hands him his loveys, covers him in his blanket, and then says a brief prayer out loud over him while placing his hand on DS' head. Then he says "night night S, Daddy loves you." And then he walks out, shutting the door behind him.</p> <p>If I'm doing bedtime, I do the exact same thing. </p> <p>MOST days DS has no problem with it, some days he cries, but we just walk out and shut the door and he settles in a few minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481737 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:09:37 +0000 autumnlove 2481737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just kiss my 3&amp;4 year old goodnight and I leave.</p> <p>It is much, much, much harder with my 7 month old. I want to throw in the towel and just nurse her to sleep! :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481729 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:04:46 +0000 Adira 2481729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just leave? :silly: </p> <p>Once the routine is essentially over, I turn off the lights, sing one more song, and then say "Good night, ____, I love you. Have a good night, I'll see you tomorrow." and then leave and close the door behind me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-escape-the-room-after-the-bedtime-routine#post-2481728 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:04:07 +0000 rattles 2481728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Set routine, same final song, same dismissal. When we go through periods of fighting it, I still do the routine, let her fuss/cry a few minutes, then stick my head in and remind her it's bedtime and say the final dismissal again. Rinse and repeat until I get frustrated :wink: </p>