Author Topic: Time to change bedtime routine for 4 year old?  (Read 1470 times)

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Offline Chloevalentine

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Time to change bedtime routine for 4 year old?
« on: August 09, 2017, 23:17:48 pm »
I've posted about sleep trouble with my 4 year old about 7 months ago. We are still having issues. I've chocked it up to just getting older maybe needing less sleep or developmental. But he sleeps late sometimes until 8 am so he's still doing about 11.5 hours sometimes more or less. But I can't get him back on an easier night earlier morning. Maybe once summer is over and nights get darker earlier. He's having a hard time unwinding at night before bed. We always did some quiet time on the sofa then up for bath pjs and bed. But it's been months since he's beeen able to pay attention to a book and he usually has a meltdown of some sort before or after bath then in bed while my husband and I sit in his room to read or sing or talk about the day he's talking jibberish and singing and not wanting to lay in bed. Then he'll get out of bed a few times some nights. It's just stressful. I've tried later bedtime earlier bedtime more activity less activity. Nothing works. Maybe it's time to change up the wind down leading up to bed? Any tips ?

Offline Haribo2012

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Re: Time to change bedtime routine for 4 year old?
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2017, 08:57:44 am »
Why don't you try and get him to read or sing to you, let him play out his energy rather than trying to quieten him down.

What times he asleep?
Zoe


Offline Chloevalentine

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Re: Time to change bedtime routine for 4 year old?
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2017, 23:52:18 pm »
I have tried that! Last night was after 9! It's just always a struggle every night he has a tantrum after or before bath and then getting out of bed wanting us to come back to his room to read more etc. he can't even sit still to pay attention to the book. He's so wired.

Offline Lindsay27

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Re: Time to change bedtime routine for 4 year old?
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2017, 00:19:20 am »
If he's waking up at 8am and going to bed at 9pm that seems pretty normal to me.  I think if you want BT to be earlier then WU needs to be earlier too.  My DS is generally a 6:30/7am waker and 7:30/8pm BT.  I think he's honestly just UT at bed. 
« Last Edit: August 11, 2017, 10:41:32 am by Lindsay27 »



Offline Haribo2012

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Re: Time to change bedtime routine for 4 year old?
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2017, 05:49:41 am »
I'd totally second what pp said, my 5 year old is bed at 7.30/8 up at 6.30.
Zoe


Offline Chloevalentine

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Re: Time to change bedtime routine for 4 year old?
« Reply #5 on: August 13, 2017, 17:08:57 pm »
Bedtime just seems to be a struggle no matter what. I've been waking him and he's still having a hard time at bed and not falling asleep until 9 or later! Ugh

Offline Haribo2012

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Re: Time to change bedtime routine for 4 year old?
« Reply #6 on: August 13, 2017, 19:29:13 pm »
He perhaps just needs less sleep at this time x
Zoe


Offline Chloevalentine

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Re: Time to change bedtime routine for 4 year old?
« Reply #7 on: August 14, 2017, 01:01:11 am »
Today my husband didn't wake him until 815 he was dead asleep and we had no tantrums at bed time and no getting out of bed. Still was up until 9 but we went up later around 8. He still seems to need about 11 hours of sleep but just later to bed and later to wake in morning. Im hoping this will change by the time school starts and he has to be there for 830 :)

Offline Haribo2012

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Re: Time to change bedtime routine for 4 year old?
« Reply #8 on: August 14, 2017, 05:50:26 am »
You'll just have to move things on slow increments x
Zoe