I Need Sleep!

I have a 3 year old and he had the same sleep pattern since 6 months old...730 pm to 730 am with a 2 hr nap. But at about 2 1/2 it changed also.. 8/830pm to 6/630am and 1.5 hr nap. it has stayed the same since then. Nothing worked to change it for me...I started to see that he is just getting older and might need less sleep. Most of the kids his age in his preschool dont even nap anymore. And he sleeps better and longer than what the other parents tell me how thier children sleep. He gets about 11.5 hrs of sleep total which fits the reccommended amount. I am also pregnant and it was hard to ajust, too. I don't know how you feel about tv but I just let him crawl in bed and watch cartoons for about 30 minutes to get a little more sleep.

Hi there Robyn.
We had the exact same situation here. My hubbie get's up at 5:30 for work and I have four boys (all 4 and under.) I am not a "share the bed with your kids kind of person," but when our 2 year old would wake up I would slip him into my bed with me. I figured since my husband wasn't in the bed, it would be ok for him to come in. My kids aren't allowed to be in our bed unless daddy is not in it. It worked out great. In fact - he would get a few more hours of sleep and I could quietly wake and get ready before he stirred.
I hope that helps. Good luck.
Crystal P.

I know it sounds odd, but Weissbluth (Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby) would say to try an earlier bedtime. It worked for our 4 mo old twins...not sure about a Toddler....best of luck!

I've been there!! Except my husband was overseas and I just needed that last hour to function properly throughout the day. I had my daughter wake me up and then I handed her a preset alarm clock set to go off at 7:00 a.m. I had books and toys set up for her to play in my locked room. I slept until that alarm went off and she would bring the alarm clock to me to help wake up mommy. Of course, I don't know your toddler...it worked for mine and she enjoyed the responsibility of waking me up when the alarm went off. Even though it wasn't full deep sleep, it was enough to help get me through the day.

With my first son, I would have him come to bed with me after Daddy left for work & that worked fine. But, my 2nd son is more energetic & when I was pregnant with my 3rd, I would get a snack
for my second son, make sure there were toys available for him, & set it up with the TV on in the living room while I sacked out on the couch. That way, he had everything he needed & since I was pregnant, I had no trouble falling asleep again & sleeping through the noise he would make.

I hate to say it, but it sounds just like our family. There is a natural evolution that occurs for a lot of children. They just require less sleep. I have not found anything that works to get them to sleep more in the night. I have noticed that the more physically active they are in the daytime(outside the home), the more likely they are to nap or sleep hard at night. Good Luck.

Robyn M; you have been extreamly lucky to have a child that has been such a good sleeper for you in the past. Childrens sleep patterns change as the get older. And some times they do not need as much sleep as they did when they were little. You may want to alter your daughters schedule a little. For example try keeping her up an hour later in the evening. Your husband will get to play with her longer and she will probably sleep a little sounder during the wee hours of the morning when your husband is getting ready for work. Gently remind him that he needs to be a little quieter in the mornings...sometimes they don't even think about how loud they are when nobody is up.
My first child was very regular with her sleeping. But when I was pregnant with my second ...she was about the same age as your daughter...it all changed. my first child stopped thaking a 2-3 hour nap all together. So I can sympathize with you and it is comming from experience. It must be the hormones...Ha Ha Ha. She probably doesn't want to miss anything that you might be doing...like nesting...and her schedule is disruped with doc appts. and stuff. Thats what I figured anyway. Good luck it never stays the same as they grow up. My daughter is 6 1/2 and my son just turned 4 and I still wish I could get more sleep. Best wishes, Sincerely T. C

Do you have an air purifyer? the gental calming noise it makes really drowns out other noises your hubby may make in the AM. try it.

anytime after 5am - my son is allowed to get into bed with us as long as he goes to sleep. It is our "cuddle" time and I get to sleep in until 7:30am some mornings - really cool

Does your daughter have all of her teeth? If not, she could be getting her 2 year molars early and those are very painful coming in. I had this with my daughters, so I'd give them a little bit of tylenol if they woke up during the middle of the night.

When I went through this I would just bring my dd in my bed with me and turn on the tube. She usually sat there and watched cartoons, and I got a little more sleep. If tv isn't right for your family then come up with something she can do in the room with you while you sleep. Another thought is to move her bedtime to a little later.
Good Luck.

I can relate except I an a stay at home M.. My husband gets out of bed at 5.00am but then he has to hit the LOUD snooz 3 times. So being a M. and a light sleeper, i'm awake. I have two kids and 1st the 2yr wakes up and craws into bed maybe I can get alittle more sleep. Daddy leaves and then I hear the other one 3yrs. I have just come to realize i'm getting up too.My husband is also VERY loud, when i mention it he says i'm trying to be quiet. Yea He use to work swing so we got to sleep later everyday. Not now. The only thing I can say is when the kids get older they need less sleep. Just put her in bed with you. My kids never slept with us till he started working am shift.I do know sleep is important and i feel for you, kids change so much.It won't be long and you'll be getting up with the new one too.It is 7:15 and we had breakfast and changed clothes and here I am on the computer.SEE No one ever said being a M. was easy. Take care and many blessings, K.

Hi Robyn,

Maybe your daughter is getting too much sleep now and just not tired enough to sleep 14 hours a day. My son totally gave up his nap at about 2 1/2. If you skip the afternoon nap altogether maybe she'll continue to sleep the 12 hours at night. Or if she needs a nap, have her take it earlier so it doesn't interfere with the her night time sleep. You also might try putting her to bed 1/2 an hour later and that may have her sleep later.

Sleep patterns constantly change and this will hopefully just be a phase.

Good luck.

L.

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