hi there i had the same problem with my eldest daughter faith and i tried everything and the main on sitting on a chaier in her room then slowly moving it out it took a few months, but worth it.i have another daughter now and i have the same problem she is 20 months but i have found to wounderful ways 1 is to have some lighting in her room like a fibre optric tree or something similar as she stares at it and falls asleep but she also has the rado on just slightly for comfort this works a treat and i am actually getting some sleep its hard work but worth it in the end GOOD LUCK CARRIE cheers teresa

Hi Carrie. So sympathise with you! I had a similar problem with my now 4-year old son when he was around 2. I hate to say this, but there is probably no quick fix to your problem. I spent at least two weeks, putting him to bed and when he called out (or screamed) or came downstairs or just got up to mischief I silently, without eye contact, put him back to bed and said 'goodnight, it's time for bed'. It was hell and sometimes took 20 or 30 tellings a night and disrupted the entire family. It took about a month for him to go to bed without fuss. Even now he plays in the dark for an hour before going to sleep but he stays quiet in his room and bedtime is much nicer. It's easier to take the line of least resistance especially when you are tired. Someone told me to make going to bed exciting and fun rather than almost a punishment at the end of the day. She used fold down the duvets and put milk and bisuits on a plate on their beds or give them torches or bribe them with extra stories. I'm sure there are hundreds of stories to tell about bedtime but consistency is key. Don't give in once. Keep going - you'll be glad in the end Carrie