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Getting My Kid To Sleep And Wake Up Early For School

Discussion in 'Schoolgoers & Teens' started by Charm8457, Aug 28, 2016.

  1. Charm8457

    Charm8457 New IL'ite

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    My kid is 5 and just started kindergarten. His school starts at 8AM so we have to wake him up at 6:45 so we have enough time for breakfast and getting ready. The problem is he won't go to sleep until after 10. I give him dinner at 7 and then try to get him to sleep by 8:30 by lying down with him in his own bed, rubbing his back, and telling him stories but he still wants to get up and play until close to 10 and then he drifts to sleep by 10:30PM. He comes into our room at around 1-2AM most nights and then takes another half an hour to fall asleep again. He used to wake up between 8-9 before starting kindergarten and that was okay because the day care would let us come in at 10. I work from home so I had him in day care from 10-5 until kindergarten started. Now, he just goes to kindergarten from 8-1:15 and I get my work done then.

    He is a little bit cranky when I wake him up but manages to perk up and eat breakfast around 7:15 (sugary cereal with milk which he thankfully eats without fuss). The problem is that he gets very cranky in the late afternoon. Since today was Saturday, he slept until 8:45AM and was very happy. He hasn't taken regular naps since he was 3 but will still sometimes fall asleep in the car if we go somewhere after 3 or 4PM. Since school started, we stay close to home because if he sleeps in the afternoon at all, he has an even harder time sleeping at night and will stay awake until around 11:30.

    How do I move his body clock forward so he sleeps from 8 to 6 instead of 10:30-8:30? I don't mind him coming to our room in the middle of the night if he falls asleep quickly but when he stays awake for half an hour, he has a harder time waking up and gets more cranky in the afternoon. Even after being awaken at 6:45AM, he still seems to perk back up at around 7-8PM rather than getting tired earlier and wants to watch TV and play. He also wakes up with the slightest sound.

    His new school is not a problem and he likes his teachers and is making friends.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
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  2. KashmirFlower

    KashmirFlower IL Hall of Fame

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    Try making him physically tired by taking him to park or by enrolling to sports in the evenings .

    Try to wake him as early as you all can manage. One or two days even not enough sleep he gets also fine.
    And everybody goes to sleep by 8.30 with all rooms lights off , if not already, as kid will be eager what others are doing.
    May be helps him, if he falls asleep in your room, but later take him to his room
     
  3. peet1983

    peet1983 Silver IL'ite

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    Hey,

    There can be two factor, As above said he is not that tired to take the sleep when ever you are trying to make him sleep. Or there can be some thoughts running is his mind of insecurity as he knows his parents are not sleeping with him and they will leave to another room as soon as he slept.So that situation kid will try to be awake as much as possible he can to extend that situation.
    What I believe he will be adapt a early and regular sleeping pattern when he will be more into physical activity and after noon school session.

    Still you can start some initiative from now itself like giving him hits that to notify him that its time to sleep. A cup of milk is a good way to make them feel that its bed time.

    All the best
    Note: my DD is also 5 years and she never sleeps before 11.00 :)
     
  4. guesshoo

    guesshoo IL Hall of Fame

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    A 5 year old does need 10-12 hours of sleep for optimal brain development. Plua lack of sleep leads to over eating etc. Have a routine in place.

    Explain to him his brain is getting tired when he doesn't sleep and he need sleep to grow big and strong. Explain the routine you are going to do and tell him what's expected of him.

    Give him dinner by 5:30.
    After that don't let him play rough games. No screen time either. Have quiet time where you are all talking softly and say play word games or board games. Keep lights a bit dim. 6.30 start the bedtime routine. A quick wash, brush teeth, changing into pjs and to bed for story time. Read a story with dim light softly. After that do not allow him to get up. Turn out the light and don't talk or engage with him. Let it be around 7 when he's in bed.

    Not engaging with him is a very important bit. No eye contact. No water. No food. No more stories. No talking. No toilet.

    It's supposedly better if you don't lie down next to him. I do lie down next to my child for a while for my selfish sake. However no talking rule is in place

    For this you will have to persevere for 2-3 weeks. It will seem like he isn't winding down the first few days but keep at it. Do the samething everyday in the same order. After lights out no talking at all. He is to pretend that you aren't there.

    Typically in about 2 to 3 days he will sleep quickly. However for the next 2 to 3 weeks he will test your consistency by playing up. You need to be firm.

    See if you can find super nanny videos online. Her technique works really well as long as the parents are consistent. She recommends that first you kiss the child good night and leave the room. If they come out, first time you say "it's bedtime" and wak them straight back to bed. Second time, say nothing more than, "bedtime".third time onwards, say nothing. Just take them back to bed. Depending on how stubborn the child is, he may keep awake for hours and even come out 40 times. If the parent is consistent without showing any emotion whatsoever, the kid will relent.

    If he comes to your room at night, say nothing other than, "it's sleep time" and take him straight back to his bed. We've done this with our child and she knows it's pointless to wake up in the night.

    You will find that your child is much more sharper and happier when he gets more sleep.
     
    Laks09, blindpup10 and KashmirFlower like this.
  5. Laks09

    Laks09 Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    This^^^^. For both my kids. In bed at 7:15. I hang around for a few minutes to snuggle, read a bed time story and then it's lights out and I'm out. If I stay they don't sleep. If he wakes up at 6.45, he is going to be tired by 7:00 PM. He just needs help winding down. Put stimulating toys away, eat dinner at 6 or 6:30, take a warm bath to calm down and try some massage with baby lotion. Definitely have the no electronics after dinner rule in place. Don't need extra stimulation :)
     
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  6. Charm8457

    Charm8457 New IL'ite

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    Update: My son is now asleep around 9PM most nights. I followed through on no TV or any screen time after dinner We moved his hour of screen time to late afternoon. Then we go to the park for an hour before dinner to get him tired. Dinner at 7, bath when he's done, and then we lie down and read books together. He is waking up more easily in the morning. I think he just needed to get used to the earlier routine. I'm also waking him up on Sunday by 8AM so even if we have a late Saturday night at a party, its easier to get him back on track. He doesn't get as fussy in the evening any more.
     
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