Bedtime Battles

It seems that so many parents think that hating sleep is just a normal part of being a baby. Well, this is definitely not true!! Babies and toddlers can learn to appreciate the quiet and relaxation that comes with bedtime just as adults do. When a baby feel as though they are going to a  safe, comfortable and happy place, they enjoy to go up to their little nest. Their friends are there, and they are exhausted, to them it feels as though they have been playing for days even if they just got up two hours ago.
I find that when a child's room becomes a place of punishment  that is when they to do not get the chance to focus on the good and become overwhelmed by the bad. When a sleep space is used in a threatening tone such as, " if you don't behave you will go to bed early," how is a kid ever supposed to associate their room with happiness and a sense of calm, and surprisingly that idea stays with them for years.
 Even an infant is able to understand the fact that when they are getting into trouble or they are exploring a little too much they are put into their crib like it is a  pen, but at bedtime they are supposed to embrace this place??
 I am the disciplinarian in my home but one thing I can tell you is that I have never sent my kids to their room or bed early as a punishment, and when they are ready, my kids grab their blankies, Gus gets his monkey and my daughter Olive gets her Lamb and off they go.
Bedtime does not need to be a battle.For all those mini wars we fight with our little ones' throughout the day we just need to keep their sleep space out of it. If you treat it like a sanctuary so will they.