A "How to Keep Them in Bed" Question

First of all, is he really not sleepy? If that's the case, you can try bumping back his bedtime. I find my daughter gets out of bed a lot if she's really not ready to sleep. Otherwise, here are a couple of suggestions:
1. Only tuck him in twice. Once do the regular bedtime routine, then when he gets out of bed, say "this is the last time I'm tucking you in - now you have to get back to bed yourself." Kind of miserable that night, but normally keeps my daughter from getting out of bed subsequent nights.
2. Say before you leave the room "okay, is there anything else you need or need to tell me?" Then they don't have the "oh, I forgot to tell you X" excuse.
3. It really helps my daughter if I give her something to think about while she falls asleep. Something detailed. I normally say something like "Imagine that you're a princess in a castle, and imagine all of the beautiful flowers in the garden, and all of the delicious desserts that you'll have at tea, and all of the beautiful dresses your princess friends will wear." It keeps the mind from wandering and helps pass the time until she drifts off (works for me too! Although I don't imagine being a princess, ha ha). You could do the same with a construction site or train scenario, if your son is into stuff like that.
4. Finally, I have some friends whose kids really need a little wind down time by themselves in bed before they fall asleep. They put the light on a timer so their kids know they can play a little while by themselves before they doze off. Then it doesn't matter so much if they are sleepy, because they're allowed to play a bit. Doesn't work for my kids, but might for yours.
Good luck!

We do the "two tuck in rule". Our daughter gets a tuck in from mommy and daddy, and if she gets up again she's on her own. She's also allowed to look at books in her bed (she has a reading light) until she gets sleepy. We have also had this conversation with her:

"But I can't sleeeeeeeeep."
"You don't have to go to sleep."
"What?!?"
"Nope, you can stay up alllll night if you want."
"Really!?!?"
"You bet...you just have to do it quietly, and in your bed."
"Grrrrr...(goes back into room.)"

It's sarcastic, but it works! :)

We are going threw the same thing with our 3 year old. We made a chart that she has to mark of the bed time things as she does it. It is working. SHe also has a night light that she can hold and it shuts off after 15 min. When it goes off she know s it is time for bed. This is working very well so far and it has been 2 months. The light came from walmart. Good luck keep us posted.

does he have anything that he always sleeps with - a stuffed animal a blanket etc? my daughter had a hippo.

she got out of bed for the 10th time. we said you get out again we'll take the hippo. here's the tough part - she got out again, we took the hippo, and told her she would get it back in the morning if she stayed in her room - she cried for a little bit - but she didn't open the door again and eventually went to sleep

then next night when we put her to bed we gave her the hippo back and said - remember if you open the door we'll take the hippo. now she tells us as we're putting her to bed - i won't open the door or you'll take the hippo.

the first night you have to stick to your guns no matter how hard he is crying and may stay awake longer etc. but it gets easier. my daughter maybe playing/talking for up to an hour in her room before she falls asleep - but we leave her alone - as long as she doesn't open the door we let her be.

she knows that she can come out to go potty - but that is it. if she says she has to go, just as an excuse to get out - but doesn't go - then she knows its the same as opening the door - she looses the hippo for the night.

she does have 2-3 infant picture books that are easy to see the pictures by the light of the night light.... so i hear her talking to them - when she's not "sleepy" she has to stay in her room but she can "read" until she gets sleepy.

You have some great suggestions for night lights, sticker charts and so on. Pick one that works for you. Also, you can put a childproof doorknob cover - the type that keeps them from opening the front door or the basement door and falling down the steps - and put it on the inside of her bedroom door. She won't be able to open the door. You can't keep her in bed, but you can keep her from coming downstairs a zillion times. You can give her a nightlight but, if necessary, put her regular lights on timers so she can't turn them on and keep playing into the wee hours. Once she spends a half hour in the near-dark, she'll get bored and go to sleep. The nightlight will keep her from being frightened, if that's a problem. But coming downstairs needs to be non-negotiable. Good luck!

Just reward him when he does. Make sure he has a night light too. I got one that comes un plugged but stays lit up so they can go to the bathroom by themselves. I let my kids take a small glass or water to help with the "I'm thirsties"!! Bribery always works. LOL

M. - SAHM of three!
I also work from home and love it!

Hi - I had that exact problem with both my girls. We started a rule, and I think they were each about 3 years old when we started it. First, I ask them to make sure they have everything they want/need before they get into bed. Then I remind them that they can only call me ONE time after I leave, just in case they forgot something really important - because of course everyone sometimes forgets. But don't waste that call on something not important - because something really important might come up. Then I tell them that if they call me a second time, and I don't think it's important - I will TAKE AWAY something they love. You will likely have to be prepared to do this the first or second night, so only start this rule when you are prepared to be strong. But once you do - it works like a charm. They always remember. I also tell them that if they are truly feeling sick - like they are going to throw up - then it is fine to call.
Good luck!