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This week, five lucky Chicago Parent readers will win a Johnson's Bedtime set. Each set includes a box of three Easy-Grip Toddler Sudzing Bars and a bottle of Toddler Wash. To win, tell us what bedtime trick you have for getting the little ones to sleep. Post your answer here and then e-mail your answer, name and your Chicago Parent ID to e-dition at chicagoparent dot com. You must post and e-mail us for your answer to be counted. We will not release your information-it is purely for contact purposes. Some answers may appear in Chicago Parent magazine. Winners will be chosen at random and may have no affiliation with Wednesday Journal Inc. or its employees.

This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who participated.

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Kate Pancero
Assistant Editor/Weekend E-dition Editor
FabMama columnist
Chicago Parent

To get our almost-two-year old to sleep, we stick closely to our bedtime routine, which includes at the very end singing songs to her.  We start with short songs - like the Itsy Bitsy Spider, but we end with a long song, usually Kenny Loggins' "Return to Pooh Corner."  Even if she's not asleep by the end, she's nice and relaxed from listening to us sing!

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~Shayna

To get my 3 and 1 yr. old to sleep, i start them off with a quick bath,  let them play and have fun in the water,put their PJs on,  read them a few books, before lights off i play one of their favorite audio CD and that's about it (",)

For my kids to get to sleep, i have them take baths and brush their teeth with their own toothbrush and toothpaste that they picked out, but only after I give them and their 5 or 6 six stuffed animals "the name of the Father" is when they can finally go to sleep.

I start off the bedtime routine by brushing teeth, washing hands, putting pj's on and then I give my daughter a massage.  Her legs, hands, arms, feet  to get her relaxed.  She seems to relax and anticipate this when I put her to bed.  Then I tell her that I have to go get ready for bed as well and I'll be back in 5 minutes by the time I come back she is asleep.  This seems to be working for us.

 

Rosie 

Both of my children get a bath seperately.  Then they brush their teeth, one last sip of water, and I make them go to the bathroom.  My daughter likes when I read her a book before she goes to bed.  My 2 year old son, wants lots of hugs and kisses.  Every time I try to leave his room, he keeps asking for more, so I end up giving him more.  He insists on telling me what he wants for breakfast.

I would bathe the children and put then on my chest while I laid on the water bed and swayed them to sleep. This worked well when they were very young and when the were older I'd just lie down with them and read to them and they enjoyed it  and worked very well too) !

 

Carmen Corder @ corder@uic.edu

To get my 1 year old to sleep, my husband and I will alternate reading pages of Good Night Moon. We always read the same book for bedtime.  This way my son always knows that it's time for sleep.  After reading the book, I give a tap to his wind chimes that hang in his room and give him lots of kisses.  I will then put him to bed with his "pillow" and turn on his vibrating mattress.  The vibrations lull him to sleep every time.

Kara

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Kara

My husband's grandma had recorded a whole bunch of old time radio stories and this past summer when we went to visit his uncle he passed them on to us.  The kids are so excited to listen to the next installment of the story that bedtime is not a problem.

Bedtime is quite an ordeal at times, but a consistent routine works wonders.  An hour before bedtime, my son needs to start unwinding for the day.  He takes a bath first, brushes his teeth, and then puts on his pjs.  After that we have quiet time by reading books and cuddling.  There is no tv or running around.  By the time 8:00pm rolls around, my son is ready to sleep.  He gets lots of goodnight hugs and kisses and miraculously he falls asleep in minutes.

We make sure that we have the same routinue every night. This really helps my youngest son get to sleep. First, we turn all the lights off or on low, and start calming down. We put on pajamas and brush teeth and have a drink of water. The we read a bedtime book in his rocking chair. I put him in his crib and turn on his CD player which plays "Angels" by Jessica Simpson on repeat!

Our kids are a little bit older, 6 and 8, so we are able to use "time", such as "we are starting the story in 15 minutes, so let's get ready." They come upstairs, find jammies, and we help them get changed and teeth brushed. Then one parent reads the story while the other cuddles with the kids, each one gets 7 or 8 minutes, in their own beds. They snuggle up and listen to the story while I rub backs or hold hands. By 8:00 pm, we are all ready to sleep!

Monkey see, monkey do.  

Children are social beings.  Why sleep when you can entertain, or better yet be entertained by mom's theatrics at bedtime?  I learned very early on that nothing sends the message that it's time for bed than closing my own eyes at night.  Children sees that the mommy show is over for the night and eventually decides to close her eyes, too.  Try it!

 momw4kids

My bedtime trick starts by having the kids prepare for school. We pick out our outfits, set out the book bags, and make sure lunch is already figured out. We say goodnight to everyone with a hug and a little kiss. My oldest daughter likes to lead the bedtime prayers so that everyone can hear from their rooms. Bedtime is pretty easy because everyone knows what to expect every night.

My husband reads 'Daddy Hugs' to our 4 year old and 20 month old.  They love to sit in bed and hear about all the different kinds of hugs.  The last page says 'Goodnight!' and the kids settle in.