My son was the same. It got to a point where bed time was becoming traumatic for everyone. I decided that there wasn't any point in battling with him any more so i told him, 7:30 is bed time regardless. Then I explained to him that if he wanted to play for a little while, or look at a book, that was fine but he was not allowed to come out of his bedroom otherwise I would start taking some of his favourite toys away. It only took a few nights of me reminding him that if he came out of his room, I would take toys away before he understood.

Then he would play quitely by himself for up to an hour. Sometimes a little more, sometimes as little as five minutes before he put himself to bed. He is now almost 5, most of the time he will go to bed when it is bed time, sometimes he takes himself off to bed early, and then there are those occasions where I guess he just needs a little bit of extra time to unwind, so he plays in his room quietly before climbing into bed and asking for the light to be turned up. i guess we all experience that same restlessness at bedtime on occassion. If we try desperately to go to sleep it doesn't happen, but if you try and do something to allow your mind and body to unwind, sleep comes more easily. Hope this helps

x E

Well last night took 45 mins to get him to sleep. This is what we have come up with, and as long as it takes I am going to stick to it.

We put him to bed and lay with him until he goes to sleep once the period it takes for him to get to sleep has reduced to 15 mins then we will move to sitting  at the end of the bed until he goes to sleep then move to the door so he can still see us and eventually on to the otherside of the door where he can't see us but if he gets up we are right there and can put him back to bed. In saying we lay with him we do't acknowledge any behaviours and actually lay with our back to him so he doesn't think we want to play. I am so hoping this works and if it does I will let you all know so you can all give it a go with your sleepless kidlets!

Just the same as our 2year old.  Let me know when you find the answers or the off switch! lol.

We have our girl go to sleep on the couch, usually cuddled upto me, and when she is asleep, put her in her bed.  Any where from 10pm-3am, she gets up again and if I am in bed, she just goes to sleep on the couch, if I'm asleep on the couch (long story-not relationship motivated!) or I'm still working on the computer (hehehehe) then I take her into my bed and she sleeps with Daddy.

Our girls are all in bed by 8pm, and usually asleep by then, but it is just our 2 year old that doesn't stay that way, so I know what you are going through.

Hi!  Sorry I can't help much but we are in a similar boat - we have had the same routine for ages, bath, bed & stories etc...  but my son stays awake for hours.  He is not allowed to leave his room and if he does he gets led back, but he just doesn't go to sleep.  He is very active and very bright so he gets lots of stimulation during the day, so that is not the problem. We use soothing smells, a special blanket and dim lights (scared if we turn teh lights off)  What seems to be working to keep him in his bed is to play story cds and we put them on repeat so it is the same story over and over. I have kind of accepted that this is how he is but I would love to find ways of helping him self soothe - he is 5 and has been like this since a baby.  I'll be watching the tips you get from other mums!

the more u yell at him the more he will play up. just keep being patient with him at bed time. everytime he gets out of bed use a firm ,but not a shout , voice with him and put him back in bed even if u have to sit with him till he falls asleep. he picks up on ur emotions and is playng them against u.  try giving him a warm glass of milk to help him sleep,  keep him to a routine if he goes to bed at 7 at night then keep it at that time. my son is three months and knows that its bed time cos we have a bath then a warm bottle then a book read. ok he wakes at 6 in the morn but hes sleeping through the night.  just be patien but dont keep yelling as it confusing him.

 I God you sound just like me!! We have been there with the same situation. I am afraid I don't have any real answers. All I have done is try to carry on the same. Stay calm and ride through it. The one thing that helped when he was waking a lot and crying was a controlled crying type thing. We'd go in for only 30 secs. Come out wait 1 minute, go in for 30 secs. Come out wait 1 minute. Repet this adding 30 secs on each time. 

One night it took an hour and we were up 3 times after that for less time each time. It did not completely resolve the situation, but he will settle after just a quick intervention now and is up only once a night. Part of me feels it is a bit of a phase as parents I know with 2 year olds ( even the best sleepers) have all been through this too. 

Sorry I'm not more help. Good luck x