HELP ME!!!!!

[nettles]

My three and a half year old daughter doesn't want to go to sleep until 8pm at the earliest, most nights it's closer to 9-9:30. She only sleeps a few hours and then wakes about midnight-1am sometimes crying and crawls into my bed. I generally take her back to her bed and then she wakes again at about 5am, sometimes earlier if she doesn't wake up at midnight. But once she wakes up at 5 or after, that's it, she won't go back to sleep no matter what I try. She eats her dinner some nights but others she will only have 1 bite. I don't know whether that has anything to do with it, she still wakes up even if she does eat her dinner. She doesn't sleep during the day very often, it does happen but probably only once a week if I'm lucky. She is making it very hard for my other daughter who is in grade 1, she wakes her up and then everybody else as they share a room. I am at my wits end, I feel like I'm going insane with lack of sleep, does anybody know what I can do to try to end this sleep cycle

[Suri123]

Hi, It is quite common as a mother to be worried about child’s sleep but do your daughter feel the same?. At this age fairly they are tuned for a good night's sleep but such untimely awakenings and going early to bed or getting up early, little later sometimes is normal. Do your daughter has regular day time sleep and how active she is otherwise. Do you feel she is able to sleep without you comfortably or feels scared to sleep alone. It is better to give her a early dinner and follow a routine time to put her to sleep with some soft music or a toy to cuddle with. Warm bath at bed time can be soothing. Observe for some more time or else see a Pediatrician, take care.

[nettles]

thankyou, she doesn't sleep regularly during the day, she refuses. Sometimes when we go driving she falls asleep, but then wakes up soon after when you stop the car. She is a very active girl, she doesn't sit there and let you read a whole book through or do an activity with her, she will get up and run around, she is a handful. I know she is scared of the dark, so I have been leaving a light on so that she can see. We used to put her to sleep at about 7-7:30 but she would keep my other daughter awake and stuff. We had to take the light globe out cause she would switch it on and off all the time, wouldn't go to sleep till about 9 by then. I have started letting my older daughter go to bed first so that she can get to sleep but then I find my younger one awake till 9:30-10 and it's worse. She has rings under her eyes, you can see she doesn't get enough sleep, but she doesn't want to.

[Suri123]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Well, It is quite difficult to make children follow a regular sleep cycle particularly when they are very active or little naughty. Usually they tend to sleep after having meal, a warm bath or after being tired of play. It is ok if she sleep of less time in day else may take much longer time to go to bed at night. A calm and comforting atmosphere will reasonably put her to sleep. Does she wake up frequently at night? Is she in a habit of wanting something to eat if wakes up? She may need you more, so keep patience and give her love and care she needs for some more time till she is capable of taking care herself and understands not to bother others. Take care.

[Suri123]

Hi, How is your daughter doing now? A playful and active child around your daughter's age if sleep's for about 10 hours a day put together should be ok, it need not be at a stretch either. Generally when she feels sleepy, may sleep irrespective of place or time. Over a period you need to observe what makes her feel comfortable and go to sleep early. Following such healthy sleep pattern can be beneficial in long run. You need to be careful in sensing any problem due to illness commonly a cold, ear ache, colic or urinary infection etc as she might not be able to tell you, which needs to be consulted with the doctor. Take care.