We have just recently started a routine that works for us. I know your situation is very different, I just wanted to tell you what worked for us.

We have one DD (4 yrs). She would put off bedtime, say she was scared, not tired, hungry, thirsty, potty, always something.

I found that I needed to cut out her nap (this was a year ago). That moved her bedtime up from 9PM to 8:30. We still struggled with the actual bedtime though. It would be 10PM or after before she finally fell asleep. I didn't want to go to bed until I knew she was asleep, so I was up long after DH went to bed.

I finally started waking DD up in the mornings. 7:30AM, if she wasn't up, I woke her. I kept her from taking naps, and woke her if she did fall asleep in the afternoon. Bedtime moved up to 8PM. She was so tired, she fell asleep almost instantly.

She received a handheld game for Christmas that she really likes. I allow her to play that in bed for 10 minutes after we do our bedtime routine (prayer and hugs and tucking in). This helps motivate her to go to bed. Then I check on her every 10 minutes until she goes to sleep. She is usually asleep before I get in there the first time. Checking on her keeps her from calling me in all the time, and keeps her from being scared, as she knows mommy will be in there in just 10 minutes.

We also leave the hall light on.

I don't know your circumstances, and this may not apply to you, but I just wanted to let you know what has helped us.

Hugs,
Lisa

Thanks for your thoughts on this matter and for some good ideas! I am looking for some good books on tape for my kiddos to listen too at night, maybe that will help too.

I find that with my five kids, probably 3 needed to be layed down with to sleep. It is hard at the start, but the patience gets better. Half an hour of time is wasted sure, but it works.

Mostly my kids go to bed at 8:30 and wake up when they are ready. That seems to work. How old are your kids?