Child not going to sleep

[fourstardan]

Ok, so we've flipped, its now been going on for a week.

Nearly 4 year old was always good going down, bottle of milk, gone.

The last week he's turned into a complete devil. Today he's been out all day running riot and now not going down.

I get he's a child and this happens but what are the tactics. Leave the room he gets up runs around, stay in he just has been jumping about.

He knows it's getting a reaction now which is annoying.

[six wheels]

You get what you pay attention to.

They’ll do whatever they need to, to get attention. No harm in leaving the little one to cry once they’ve had their story/milk/routine.

Hard to do, though.

Good luck!

[Luke.]

Once he's down shut the bedroom door and ignore. Give it a couple of days and you should be right as rain...

[Rusty Old-Banger]

I lay them down, lights off, and walk them through everything they've done that day - what was for breakfast, what was on the TV while they ate, what we saw on the school run, etc. By the time we've done that, which I try and hang out for about 10 minutes, they are yawning away.

Also have a fan going in the room, for the white noise, and a blackout blind, crucial at this time of year.

[FactoryBacked]

Any changes in diet or routine? Screen time before bed?

Our 3.5 year old does this but generally only with his mum, colleagues at work also say the same that the mum gets played up the easiest.

We usually switch if it’s been going on for a while and I go in to the room with no reaction to it.

Sometimes after a couple of minutes of being alone after explaining why he is being left alone. Usually means tears and noise but makes the good cop / bad cop bit more effective.

Calm voice, sat down, some shushing and gentle quiet requests to get into bed. He likes a back rub so I offer that and his favourite cuddly toy to snuggle.

Usually all settles down within a few minutes once he realises the game is up. Much to the annoyance of his mum!

Edited by FactoryBacked on Monday 8th July 19:43

Edited by FactoryBacked on Monday 8th July 19:45

[fourstardan]

Trying most of what's recommended.

Im ending up sorting him out at the moment which I don't like as im the bad cop and it's not great to need to.

Throwing his bed clothes everywhere tonight which sends me insane.

I think its a growth thing, he's fighting sleep as he knows he can but getting irritated and not admitting he needs to sleep.

[Panamax]

Rusty Old-Banger said:

I lay them down, lights off, and walk them through everything they've done that day - what was for breakfast, what was on the TV while they ate, what we saw on the school run, etc. By the time we've done that, which I try and hang out for about 10 minutes, they are yawning away.

Also have a fan going in the room, for the white noise, and a blackout blind, crucial at this time of year.

Sound advice there. And, of course, that old staple - sit on the bed and read a book aloud.

[Dog Biscuit]

You could try melatonin for a short while to get them back into the cycle

Worked a treat for us in the past

[Moominho]

Does he have an afternoon nap?

[fourstardan]

No, yesterday he woke up at 630AM and went to a fun park all day.

I think he's just getting a bit above himself on the sleep side, then getting overtired.

Calm down routine obviously not working.

I said to my mrs that this is a period of change and we need to shake up the routine, he also needs to start going to sleep and respecting its bedtime without us in the room.

[Rusty Old-Banger]

fourstardan said:

...respecting its bedtime without us in the room.

In my experience (4 kids), good luck with that. the 3 of mine that are older than 4, all needed an element of bedroom attendance at that age. Taking themselves off and self-settling really only started at Primary school.

It gets easier before it gets harder - now the 14 year old will be up til 5am if we let her/left the internet on!!