WATERLOO, Naseby, Culloden - all famous battles in British history.

Among the many lists of the greatest battle in Britain's long and illustrious past there is always one battle that goes unmentioned.

The battle of bedtime.

Many parents have fought this long and tiresome battle.

Some have fallen on their swords, given up and allowed their little ones to claim victory as they are allowed downstairs or conquer their parents' bed.

Others keep a stiff upper lip.

Fuelled only by caffeine busting coffee and an iron will - they do not retreat on their word no matter how loud the little Napoleons scream, wail or fight back.

After years of fighting more than our fair share of bedroom battles we have finally cracked it and both Daisy and Jacob know that getting out of bed will see them face a firing squad.

Though, instead of bullets it is using the SuperNanny technique of giving them no attention and returning them to their domain.

Recently though my daughter has managed to infiltrate enemy lines using the perfect cover of being ill.

A couple of nights in our bed while genuinely ill - now she is perfectly well again she is refusing to get back behind the barricades.

She wanders into our room at some ungodly hour, all cute and tired rubbing her eyes.

My husband conveniently manages to sleep through her cries but she knows I have the will of a jellyfish and will soon cave and let her get under the covers.

But it has to stop - not least because using my head as a pillow meant I got no sleep.

So we have been trying to break the habit - without me breaking first.

I thought I had found the perfect plan - lie in her bed with her for a bit then sneak off.

Perched on the very edge of the bed, reminding myself I have to go back to my own bed in a minute but finding myself increasingly more tired.

Daisy then started to stroke my hair and my arm, soothingly while cuddled up to me - so cosy.

And yes, before I knew it I was fast asleep.

Was this her plan all along?

But she had stayed in her bedroom so I guess I won the battle but definitely lost the war.