Tips for Getting into the Carseat and/Or Staying In Bed From Other Moms

• I try to make getting in the carseat fun! We play games on the way to wherever we are going! As for getting in bed if they get in bed without fighting they get a extra story! ~ Jinger M.

•  Look into LOVE and LOGIC, giving them little choices that don't mean anything to you, makes them feel empowered. ; ) It's a life saver for me, in every situation. ~ Jenn R. 

•  All four of my kids have been there and done that... the car seat trick with our youngest was telling him he could buckle himself in, he LOVED having that control :) As for bed, we had a sticker chart (i have had them all over my house for different things) by his bed, once he was in bed and tucked in with no problems he got to put a sticker on his chart...once he had 5 stickers in a row we went for ice cream, or to the zoo, something fun that he liked to do. That worked for my youngest, but my oldest (the only girl) was more into having her day planned so I made a chart with picture cards and velcro tabs, and we moved the pictures on the chart so she knew what was coming next, and she never really had a problem going to bed, we always planned it out with the teeth brushing, going potty, goodnight kisses and get in bed. So she had nothing to ask about and nothing that she really needed. With my middle son, he had a favorite stuffed animal that he was only allowed to have in his bed... so he looked forward to getting in bed so he could cuddle with that favorite bear. Of course he grew out of the stuffed animal but all my kids go to bed with no problem now. Sorry this was so long, but different things work for different kids. The dollar store has small kitchen timers that could easily go in a diaper bag or purse and be used for all kinds of things... maybe set the timer before you walk out the door and say "let’s see if we can all be buckled in before the timer goes off"...if she thinks it’s a game, it will be fun for her, and make life easier for you at the same time :) (Thanks ~ Tonya M.

•  Our 2 year old, when time for bed or leaving something fun such as the playground, always asks for more minutes (when leaving play) or asks for another drink, another hug, another kiss, another song, another prayer... Yes, she knows what she's doing & she's a master at it! :) We just give her advance reasonable notice of when she'll be expected to do something. I.E.: we count down the last 3 minutes before we have to leave the playground so she knows & is more willing to leave when it is time. For bedtime we let her know she gets her drink before going to her bedroom & we don't leave to get anything once we are in there going to bed, so get all that she needs at "bedtime drink time." and we tell her when it's our last hug, kiss, song, prayer until morning. (she makes the "last" ones good & long!) :) I've also seen someone use the microwave/oven timer method while getting their kids out the door - you set the timer & then make a game out of being out the door before it goes off, beat the timer. Not sure if that could be modified in some way for your carseat trouble? Maybe set an alarm on your phone & see if you can beat the timer to get into the carseat? ~ Kalyn R.

• My son is the best staller in the world I think. Usually a "get into bed now or mummy will take Thomas away" works fairly well. Change the situation and consequence to what suits! Eat your lunch or we can't go to park. Take away an activity that you would be doing anyway, rather than rewarding and he will choose not to lose it every time, rather than gain something because he doesn't have it in the first place. Choose your bribes wisely! I learned the hard way... ~ Helen E.