My daughter is going through a challenging period with sleep and I need some advice!
We've always been very firm about her bedtime schedule and routine because she's not an super-easy sleeper - she has almost never fallen asleep in the car or stroller, for example.
A couple of months ago, she completely dropped her nap. She still has "quiet time" alone in the afternoon but, even when she is visibly tired, she won't go to sleep. And now her nighttime sleep has been impacted.
Here are the facts: She's 3 and a half. She goes to sleep by 8pm and she regularly wakes up before 6am. She doesn't nap. From what I've read this is really not enough sleep for her age and she is obviously tired - yawning, dark circles under her eyes, erratic mood swings in the evening. But I don't know how to help her get more.
I have wanted to create an earlier bedtime for her - based on the Weissbluth theory - but it is not really reasonable given that my husband and I don't get back from work until 6pm - dinner by 6:30pm, bath at 7pm, books at 7:30pm, asleep by 8pm.
I would love any advice anyone has!
T.
I am very curious to hear the responses you get. I am having the exact same sleep issues with my 3 1/2 year old boy!
I was this same type of sleeper as a child. Is her room still dark when she wakes up? If she wakes up with sunlight coming into her room, it may just take darker window coverings so she doesn't get woken up. Also make sure there's no noises that would wake her up (probably not a problem at that time of morning). Make sure she gets enough exercise and has a dependable bedtime routine too. I didn't grow out of my sleep problems until high school, so I wish you the best of luck.
The same thing happened to me, my daughter was not a sleeper. I finally started to ware her out more during the day with gymnastics. Whatever you might do.. the park, a clas... if she exercises more, she will sleep more.
Good luck!
M.
Hi T.,
Blue light has been shown to be soothing and calming, and promotes sleep. I have used a blue nightlight in my kids bedrooms, (and mine!) and it seemed to work. Or you could even put a regular sized blue bulb in a lamp.
Also, could there be something in her diet that is stimulating her? One way to find out, is to keep a diary of what she eats, and how well she rests. It might reveal something. Occasionally allergies to foods can have this kind of effect - the circles under the eyes can be a sign of that, too. The erratic mood swings in the evening, might point to a food eaten at or after dinner. You may already know that things like artificial flavors and colors can have a stimulating effect, and that some common allergens include milk, wheat and peanuts (and different people can respond very differently to allergens.)
Good luck, hope this helps!
Skip the bath unless she's really dirty and you'll get an extra half hour to be her to bed earlier
It sounds like you need to change her bedtime. Is it possible for you caregiver to give her her dinner and then you can spend some time with her before bath and bed? Try rolling it back a half an hour, and see what happens. If she is overtired, she won't sleep as well or as long. Or is it possible for one of you to go to work earlier and come home earlier? Also, some kids don't need as much sleep, however, if she is seemingly tired then it sounds like she needs more sleep. Also, she may be reacting to not being able to spend much quality time with you, so she may not WANT to sleep because then she doesn't get to be with you. And if you are hectic, coming home, making dinner, straight to bath, books and bed, then she isn't getting the play time with you. I would try to change your schedule so that she has eaten by the time you get home, so you can spend that half hour of qulaity time together.
