we have created that monster too!!!! and will beg for drink, says she has to potty, says she is hungry, anything to get up...and move around to keep herself awake.....I am still up at 2-3am sometimes......I thought it was good at first because I work 2nd shift and hubby works 1st....so she and I would take a bath and play then go to bed and sleep a little later...but that got off somehow and she is staying up later and later....the more I fuss for her to go to sleep and all ......she will pull the I miss you mommy card and make me feel horrible...sorry no advice but just wanted you to know your not alone...

my stepson started this when we got married.. he always slept in his moms bed, and us being married, well, we werent going to have that! So, he was 3 when he moved to his big boy bed. and we told him "no". plain and simple. "no" He would begin to cry, we would say night night prayers, give him hugs and kisses, and ignore him, checking on him without him noticing. and it worked.

I had this problem and got some cruel remarks about my parenting, and saying that I let him sit up all night and eat candy and he would go to daycare sleepy the next day. My son who was 3 at the time would stay up until midnight. He goes to daycare and takes a nap from 12 til 2 in the afternoon, and plays the rest of the afternoon which you would think would make him tired, we also tried being outside after supper time to make him even more tried so he would go to bed. NOTHING seemed to work and we even started a routine of bath time at 8 then we would read a book, and lay him down by himself with no lights on and the tv off with only a night light and he would still just lay there and cry. Eventually he got over his spell of staying up really late and now goes to bed around 8:30 or 9. I think sometimes it just a phase they go through and yes it is hard on the parents b/c I wanted to go to bed like a normal human being at a decent time. Good luck I really with I had more advise to give you but I really don't :(

DISCIPLINE is the key word. You have to (as hard as it may seem sometimes b/c they will make you feel guilty) make them stay in their room and work it out. I have 2 girls that are great sleepers. They sleep through anything, which is good and bad. But I taught them from a very early age that this is your bed time. They are 4 and 6. I have a couple of friends in your situation and they refuse to discipline their kids. You have to take them to bed, get into a routine do it only once (bath, story, prayers etc) then if they continue to get up after that you need to take them back close the door and let them work it out. A fit will most likely ensue but you need to keep taking them back. Eventually if you stick w/ it they will learn that their bed is where they belong. Consistency is the key. Don't bribe that never works. Spank if necessary. I know it sounds cruel but come on kids need to know your serious!

Know it's been a while since you've posted but wanted to share. I myself have difficulty sleeping (i'm no 6 y/o though) and find that sometimes i have the most difficulty on my busiest days. In my opinion your daughter might be overstimulated and overtired and that alone can keep you up. I limit sweets with my daughter and especially don't let her have anything like that past dinner. She can have a cup of milk or water before bed and nothing more. Keeping a routine is key also because any little change throws them off and you're back to square one. A warm bath and a good bedtime book and then lights out is what we do. When I apply lotion to her after bath I try and hit some pressure points (of course gently) that are used in relaxation...feet and on the stomache in circular motion. Also as Amosley stated, discipline is very important. If she thinks she can get away with going to bed she will do everything she can to get her way. Teach her that isn't going to happen...basically never give in. Even if it means ignoring all of her requests and whining. My daughter can go from crying for more milk or wanting more books, etc. to asleep in 2 minutes.