3 year old having sleep problems...

[sweetpeamom25]

Our 3 year old has been having some trouble sleeping lately. We usually put her to be between 8:30-9:00. During the week she goes to daycare so we wake her up around 6:30. On the weekends we used to just let her sleep until she woke up, which was usually around 7:00-7:30. For the past few weeks she has been waking up between 5:30am and 6am. She does this during the week and on the weekends.

We know she’s tired because by the time the evening rolls around she’s pretty cranky, the way she gets when she’s tired. She naps at daycare during the week but refuses to at home—we’ve given up on that battle. It interrupts us during the week because my husband and I are trying to get ready for work in the morning. And on the weekends we used to enjoy being able to sleep in a bit, but not anymore! It’s not so much the effect on us, but the fact that we know she’s tired. What do you do when your child just won’t sleep? We’ve gone in her bedroom and tried to get her to just lay back down in her bed and ‘rest.’ But she cries and screams, she refuses. We also have a 6 month old in the room next to her, so letting her cry it out is not an option.

Anyone else have a child who won’t sleep? We tried putting her to bed a little later, but that didn’t work. And I feel like she already goes to bed late enough. Any suggestions?

[sarahisis]

Had a sleep regression when my son was about 3 1/2 an it lasted a few weeks ish.
I would say... try actually putting her to bed earlier, but wear her out, mind and body before hand! We dance sometimes to the Comcast music stations... then read a few books or do a couple of puzzles.
No tv for the kid's at least a half hour before bed... gives the brain some time to decompress.

We also use classical lullabies and an air purifier in each kid's rooms.

If ds wakes up way earlier than normal now (and then too), we tell him the sun is not awake yet, so he needs to go back to sleep until the sun wakes up! We would then put the music back on and tiptoe out like it was still the middle of the night!

No issue since! Good luck!!!

[betherin]

I have to agree with trying to put her to bed earlier. My boys wake up earlier then later they go to bed and sleep in later the earlier they go to bed. It goes against what seems logical to us, but in kids sleep tends to beget sleep.

We also got a nightlight and hooked it up to a timer for my oldest (4 years old). The light turns on when he should be sleeping and off when he is allowed to get up. He knows that if his light is still on when he wakes up in the morning, he needs to stay in his room until the light goes off. Sometimes he just lays in his bed and talks/sings, but sometimes he does actually fall back asleep. too.

[sharon]

A third vote for an earlier bedtime. When our son stays up too late, he wakes up too early and gets overtired and cranky and then it just turns into a cycle. According to Mary Sheedy Kurcinka a preschooler needs 12 hours of sleep. So she's really really low on sleep. It might take a while of getting enough to break the cycle.

[sarahisis]

Plus if she goes to bed earlier, you'll have a little extra time for you!

[onlyoneboy]

I agree with the earlier bed time as well. You can also try oils or Lavender in the room at night. It helps calm and induce sleep.

[apryllraye87]

Earlier bed time vote here too, we wake up at 6 am every morning and DS starts getting ready for bed at 7:15 and is in bed, lights off by 8 (at the latest).

We also read before bed & practice relaxation techniques. It helps him sleep much better.

Another thing that works for DS is having a fan in his room. He needs the white noise or he wakes up throughout the night.