How do I make my child go to bed without a fight?

We, as parents, often forget that going to bed isn't such a pleasant experience for a child. We are social creatures, and we are actually doing something which doesn't exist in nature- asking one member of the group to leave. Not only we ask her or him to leave, we expect them to go to a dark place, which sometimes could be quite frightening at night, while everyone else stays up.

What you should do is to make going to bed a fun experience- Start by giving her treat, or rewarding her in any other way, every time she goes to bad without making any trouble. You can buy her new Pajama, which she get to choose, and tell her it's a Pajama only for kids who goes to sleep in their bed. Make some fun out of it, tell her jokes, or a story that she loves. That way she would perceive going to sleep as a good experience, and within a week I think that you'll have a big surprise.

Regarding the issue that she comes to your bed- sleeping in your room is ok, but not in your bed. You must teach her that she can't sleep in your bed, like you can't sleep in her bed. She can either choose the floor, or... her room.

Good luck, I would love to read updates on how is it going !

Hi,

Don't use sending your child to a bed as a threat, create a fun routine before bed time. Maybe sleep after a favorite  TV program . Keep lights dim during evening as bedtime approaches to get the kid into the routine. 

I agree with SmithDerik but I wanted to add something. You can tell your child that she can stay up but that she has to go to bed and that the lights have to be dim. This will create the atmosphere for going to sleep and even if the first few nights it takes her a long time to fall asleep, eventually she'll get used to it. It sends the message that at a certain hour we go to bed regardless of other things we feel like doing. You can't force her to fall asleep but spending time in bed is a good way to convey the message.

I wouldn't let her sleep in your bed. There are boundaries that need to be set and this is one of them. This is a really hard habit to break to try not to start with it.

Good luck. 

With very busy life styles time is a precious commodity, so are our children. With that thought in mind you could try reading short soothing stories until she nodds off, keep in mind this should be stories you are familiar with since you are going to be telling this story in the dark. Even at her young age she will aquire a love for books and you will have the warm feeling of knowing yours was the last smile she saw before falling asleep.

my 4 year old was the same way. we got her a tv and put it in her room. she watches one movie before she goes to bed. sometimes she falls asleep watching the movie and sometimes she doesn't. but i tell her that she has to be a big girl and wait till the next night to watch another movie, or i will take the tv out of her room. also i leave the tv screen on all night as a night light.