Preschooler not sleeping ... any tricks or secrets?

[Crazy Flamer]

I had a bit of a problem with my kid when he was that age, but I found that I nipped it in the butt right away and stuck to my guns. That gave me results. Kids will get used to any situation, but if you let them keep getting away witht things, they will keep trying to get away with them.

First of all I put a nightlite in my son's room and left the door open. Second of all, in the early stages, I would sit in his room with him untill he fell asleep. I would not look at him or interact with him at all. Soon enough, because he wasn't getting that interaction, he didn't care that I wasn't there and started to fall asleep on his own.

[Eagle Eye]

My son is 3.5 and my 3 month old daughter sleeps better at night.

He uses all the excuses in the world when going to bed, but he spreads them out over the hour, plus he wakes up 2 or 3 times a night

First, oh I need something to drink
10 minutes later flicks the light on, Need to blow my nose
then its I have to use the bathroom
then its I want my nightlight on or off (opposite of what it is actually)
then he needs to go to the damn washroom again
then top it off with another drink,

After all this he needs his ninja turtle or teddy bear (which ever one he doesn't have)

The problem is that if you try to have all this lined up he just comes up with something else that he needs.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by photon

I agree, a routine and a specific bed time is crucial.

And once you get it going, don't sacrifice it for ANYTHING. To me good sleep habits are the one thing I won't sacrifice. My son has great sleep habits now, it was hard fought.

I'd rather have a spoiled brat that screams in the restaurant but sleeps well over a calm child that doesn't sleep well.

it's true, but easier said that done. I can't say how much of our energy has gone towards sleep hygiene over the last 5years, and any tiny thing will throw you off...in our case a major issue right now is the little one is in daycare two days a week, and she naps there....keeps her up 'til 11pm at home those 2 nights

[photon]

FAR easier said than done It was tough to get there and that's why I'm a bulldog when it comes to keeping it that way.

We're currently at the point where he's on the verge of giving up naps.. if he doesn't take a nap, he can be cranky but he goes to bed on time easily. If he does take a nap, then it's harder to get him to go to bed. But if he doesn't go to bed on time even with napping he's cranky the next day!

[Bingo]

we got messed up because of a trip to Saskatoon ... small house in Sask, kids slept together in a double bed now she won't sleep alone

[TheCommodoreAfro]

Originally Posted by Bingo

our 2.5 year old has hit the skids when it comes to sleeping. Tough age in that she's no longer a baby in a crip, nor old enough to completely coverse with leaving a lot of guess work.

She doesn't seem to want to be along in her room ... at the start or if she wakes up during the night.

She has a regular bed that she can get out of, and she can open the door now. She has a sound machine and has had one since she was 6 months.

We're doing everything we can to not let her in our room, but it's slowly killing the two of us in sleep deprivation.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Our daughter sleeps in the same room as us. Could be a bit of a cultural thing (my wife is Japanese) but it does the trick for us. One of the other things you may want to try (and you may already be doing this) is to have one of you stick with her until she drifts off to sleep. Weekdays my wife does this and I hold court on the weekends.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Bingo

we got messed up because of a trip to Saskatoon ... small house in Sask, kids slept together in a double bed now she won't sleep alone

Ah yeah, that explains it. Every time we do a trip or something it always takes a while to get back to normal.. even the time change does it!

[looooob]

blame Saskatchewan....works for me...

[Calgaryborn]

Keep the bedroom warm. Kids sleep better. Tire her out before bed so her body craves sleep. Maybe move her nap time earlier in the day so she is more tired at bed time. Don't attempt anything if your schedule won't let you be consistent for at least a week.

When my boys have had nightmares I tell them it's dream so they can do what they want in it. I then suggest that they dream they grow bigger than the monster and eat it up. it has always worked for them.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I will offer no advice because Sean sleeps in my bed more often than I do. And you know how old he is.

Don't do what I did.

[Ayrahb]

Nanny 911:
http://www.fox.com/nanny911/bedtime.htm

I had to watch some of these shows at one point with my girlfriend as a trade-off: she had to watch sports with me and I had to get slowly castrated by watching reality TV. Until I went and bought another TV, that is.

Anyway, the link above kinda makes sense, check it out.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by Bingo

our 2.5 year old has hit the skids when it comes to sleeping. Tough age in that she's no longer a baby in a crip, nor old enough to completely coverse with leaving a lot of guess work.

She doesn't seem to want to be along in her room ... at the start or if she wakes up during the night.

She has a regular bed that she can get out of, and she can open the door now. She has a sound machine and has had one since she was 6 months.

My 2.5 year old just moved to a bed a month or two ago. She's done pretty well. Occasionally she'll get out of her bed and come downstairs an hour or so after she's gone to bed or she'll get up really early in the morning. But for the most part she stays in her bed all night.

The main things we did were putting all Dora the Explorer bedding on the bed which she absolutely loves, and then we left the crib in her room. We told her that if she doesn't stay in her bed then she'll be sleeping in the crib and she doesn't want to sleep in her crib because she loves her bed too much.

But then again she's had very few problems sleeping through the night since she was a couple of months old. I attribute this to a regular routine every night. I don't understand how I can see parents taking their toddler/baby to an NHL game that doesn't end until 10:00. I wonder how those kids are sleeping at night.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Ayrahb

Nanny 911:
http://www.fox.com/nanny911/bedtime.htm

I had to watch some of these shows at one point with my girlfriend as a trade-off: she had to watch sports with me and I had to get slowly castrated by watching reality TV. Until I went and bought another TV, that is.

Anyway, the link above kinda makes sense, check it out.

Nice link, I always am impressed with those guys when I see that show. For all the publicly funded resources we have in this country, a publicly funded nanny 911 service to help parents learn this stuff and cope and becomes effective parents would probably be of more benifit than 10 gun registries and 100 national daycare programs.