Help! Am so tired I could scream (if I had the energy)!

[HelloMama]

DS is nearly 3 years and wakes, religiously, just before 6am. He is wide awake, takes himself off for a wee, then comes into our room demanding we get up and play with him. He then doesn't sleep all day (hasn't had daytime nap for over 1 year now) until bedtime which is around 7pm. AT bed time he is very tired and goes to sleep very quickly and easily.

I am 16 weeks pregnant with no2 and feeling absolutely exhausted! I don't know how much longer I can take this routine, with no break during the day either. We have tried so many things to try and keep him in bed in the mornings, including lots of toys in his room etc, but he just brings them in to our room wanting us all to play together!

Although we don't have black out curtains, his room is very dark. This just seems like a horrible routine he has gotton into. Does anyone have any ideas how we can either break the routine, getting him to sleep later; or ways we can keep him out of our room for at least another half an hour in the morning???? Any thoughts would be soooo appreciated!

[emsiewill]

Do you think the famous bunny clock would work?

here

It's quite expensive new, but I'm sure there'll be one on ebay.

[HelloMama]

wow! that is a BRILLIANT idea! we may have to invest in one of those. Thanks emsiewill

[emsiewill]

Also meant to say that as you progress through the pregnancy, you will get some energy back...until near the end of course, and next you'll have a tiny baby and will think that a child sleeping through from 7 - 6 is sent from heaven

[Scootergirl]

I've got a slightly defunctional bunny clock you can have (the ears don't pop up when they should but am sure it can be sorted out) which you can have for postage if you want. You might need to know someone a bit handy though.

[HelloMama]

Thank you scootergirl, I would really appreciate it. Let me know if you want me to send a cheque or paypal. Funnily enough, DH said 'i wonder if someone will post that the bunny clock didn't work for them and we can buy it cheap from them'!!! But I will try anything and it looks like a good idea.

LOL emsiewill, the only good thing to come out of this situation is that at least when the baby comes we are used to getting up in the night and the early mornings. Some friends of ours who have baby no2 have found it a real shock as their older DC's are really great sleepers. !

[Scootergirl]

If you CAT me your address I'll post it then let you know how much it cost if you want. It will need a small amount of attention though so the ears do eventually pop up, unless you want him to stay in bed all day!
Summer is the best time for it too cos DD struggled with not being able to see it (no lights or glowy bits)
We also found it helpful to have the rabbit leave a sticker or sweet for DD if she stayed in bed til she woke up - just outside the door was best so you could snafflw it if the clock didnt work one day.

[Donk]

Playgroup? That might give you a break - and once he is 3, a place would be government funded. Of course if there is no playgroup or they are all full, that's not much help.....

[HelloMama]

I have CAT'd you Scootergirl. Thanks

[emsiewill]

Oh, the power of mumsnet strikes again...hurrah!

[lillochum]

When DD1 and DD2 were getting past afternoon naps but down-time was needed, we carried on the naptime routine as "quiet time". Child is put in bedroom with stairgate in the doorway and allowed to play quietly with puzzles, books etc on their own. I think it is quite important for a child to be able to amuse itself at least for a bit of the day, but it may be difficult to institute. For our girls it was a gentle transition from the nap, but we haven't done it with No.3 - just too much else going on I think - not because No.3 is a boy (though that might make it harder!) We have also been lucky with the morning bit as our children don't usually wake before 7.00. Our youngest is now 4.5 yrs but the way we have successfully achieved relative peace in the mornings is a) treat any interruption before 7am as if it were 3am! (You would really work to get them back to bed at that hour, and if 6am is too early for you don't give in!)
b) have a dh who is like a bear with a sore head in the mornings who snarls loud and long at early interruptions - forget playing! Needless to say that also means we don't really allow the children into our bed much at any hour - we take them back to their own bed. (I do get a bit wistful for an early morning cuddle with the children sometimes, but it certainly works to discourage them from coming in).
If you can afford it/organise it then a bit of time at playgroup/nursery or a childminder is really good. It will also ease things when the new babe arrives, as he will be used to other carers, and have an environment that hasn't been altered by the new babe too. Sorry if this is a bit long, but I wish you luck - it's hard work getting a new routine going, but worth it, and if it doesn't work out, be reassured that it won't last forever!

[TooTicky]

Why don't you go to bed when he does or soon after?

[seeker]

{gets ready to dodge brickbats} It was when I was pregnant with number two that number one discovered the delights of Cbeebies!

[HelloMama]

Thanks so much for your posts! DS is already in nursery 2 days per week whilst I work. Work is like a haven, even though I have quite a demanding job, at least i get to go to the loo in peace! When baby 2 arrives I plan to maybe keep him on 1 day per week plus perhaps 2 half day pre-school sessions. Depends on finances really and how he copes with the new baby being around.

I often do think about going to bed at a similar time to DS, but after a day with not a second to myself, I really relish just sitting down and reading for a bit. You know how it is, by the time you eat dinner, clear up, watch 1 progamme on TV or flick through a mag its 11.30pm!!!

Seeker - CBeebies is already welcome in our home, even though I feel guilty. Hey, we are all allowed at least 1 parenting indulgence!

[HelloMama]

lillochum your post was really helpful. We do have 'quiet time' in the afternoons when we just sit and read stories or DS plays by himself. He is quite good at playing by himself if he's in the mood and will do so for quite a long time. I have never thought of concentrating this time to within his room though by himself (we just sit downstairs together). Perhaps if he gets used to quiet time and concentrating on playing in his room at other times, he will be more willing to do this early in the morning if we send him back to bed?!

[Apatosaurus]

Hi HelloMama,

I would second the recommendation of the Mr Bunny clock. It really has trasnsformed our mornings here. dd1 (3 and a bit) was a serial early warning waker (5.15 usually) which just had me on my knees by about 4pm as she also has stopped her lunchtime naps.

My advice with using it is start really slowly ie if he usually wakes at 5.50 am then set it for 5.55 or 6, so he only has to wait a little bit before coming into you. tell him he will get a treat (sticker/smartie whatever works for you) if he stays in bed until Mr Bunny wakes up. Let him succeed for about 3 or 4 days at that time and then sneakily move it round by about 5 mins.

We are currenly stuck at 6.45am but that is a hell of a lot better than 5.15..oh and she's not waking that early any more, more like 6.30 and then she plays with her elephants until Mr Bunny wakes up.

We've stopped all the treats now and just give her lots of praise and cuddles first thing.

HTH