How do you get a preschooler to wait in their room in the morning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have one of those ok to wake clocks, set to 7:30, that our DC had been respecting pretty well. As it gets lighter earlier, DC ignores the clock and wanders into our bedroom at 6:45-7. We tried later bedtime but that doesn’t work. They just end up getting up equally early and being more tired and cranky.

Has anyone successfully convinced their kid to let them sleep? (Kid is almost 4 so this feels developmentally appropriate- and our older one definitely followed the green clock at that age).

You need an earlier bedtime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just get your lazy asses out of bed.

+1 You and the hubsy need to trade off mornings. Be, like, adults, you know?

[Anonymous]

Holy crap, selfish entitled millennial brats!!!! Grow up and take CARE of your children, you stupid little babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just get your lazy asses out of bed.

Hahaha sleep is really important for your health and your ability to be a good parent. I don’t subscribe to the American notion of chronic exhaustion as a necessary part of parenting (past the baby stage).

Maybe you should move your own bedtime earlier instead of your child's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child locks He can’t leave his room

Why are you treating your child like a prisoner?

Not only that, but what if s/he needs to use the toilet upon waking?

He’s in a diaper for nighttime.

He's 4 and in a diaper? Get your child into nighttime pull-ups. WOW

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could people give advice without calling someone who gets out of bed at 7:30 am lazy? That's a perfectly normal time to get up. Yes, some kids get up earlier and you have to figure it out -- get up with them, provide them with an activity, etc. But that doesn't mean a parent is lazy for staying in bed until 7:30.

I would just love to cease this narrative that it is "lazy" to sleep or rest or not jump up to accommodate every other person in your life. It is toxic. The parent who gets up at 7:30am might be going to bed at midnight because they have to work after their kids go to bed, or because that's when they prep lunches and do kid-related admin, or because they have a high stress job and they use evenings to do a hobby, connect with their partner, or relax with a book or TV in order to decompress.

There is nothing wrong with getting out of bed at 7:30. Many people don't have to leave the house until 8:30 in order to get to school/work on time, and an hour is plenty of time to get ready.

It's not toxic to get up to take care of your young child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need an immediate consequence for leaving the room. I would at first just try a "it's too early. You need to be in your room." followed by a silent walk back, close the door. Then a silent walk back, close the door with a "if you come out again, I'm going to have to lock the door". Then a third silent walk back and lock the door. Let the kid scream, you've gotta have boundaries. Then I'd try some positive reinforcement as well. Like, a sticker on the days that he doesn't come out at all. Once he learns it's pointless, he'll give up. But you have to be on it IMMEDIATELY. If he hangs out in your room for 2 mins or gets to climb in your bed, or gets a hug, or gets a conversation from you (even if it's an argument about getting out of bed) then he'll never learn.

My kid always stuck with his clock, but the first month after we took the side off the crib to turn it into a toddler bed (when he was about 3 or 3.5) we left the side of the crib leaning against the wall in the hallway and told him if he came out before the light was green, the side was going back on. And we would have too! Finally put it away after about a month when it was clear he would listen.

You punish your children for waking up at a perfectly reasonable wake up time for a young child? What a jerk.

[Anonymous]

We let our oldest leave her room if she was extraordinarily quiet. She saw it as such a great privilege that she stayed quiet. If she came into our room she had to go back to her bed. We used to leave yogurts open in the fridge with a spoon next to it. Or other foods they could eat on their own. We are up by 8 so it’s not like we are sleeping the day away, but I need that extra time.

Oldest taught our middle child. They are super quiet and my kids are LOUD children. They’re 7 and 5 now but definitely by 3 they were quiet. I have a 2 year old but he’s still in the crib. He’s too young.

[Anonymous]

Go to bed earlier and be up at 7 am.

[Anonymous]

I feel so sad for you. All the morning cuddles you are missing, JFC.

[Anonymous]

Just get up. Trying to make your child stay in their room until 7:30 is lazy as hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child locks He can’t leave his room

OP here. We don’t want to scare him or make him cry (plus it would wake us up anyway).

You are the parent and you need to step up and stop being so bloody lazy! Go to bed earlier if you need more sleep.