4 year olds sleep

[Sleephead1]

Hi hope some one might have some advise. My 4 year old had always been a pretty decent sleeper. He dropped his nap at 3 and a half and his sleep went a bit to pot but did improve. Recently it has just got worse and worse. He has woken at least once if not twice in night and wakes for the day at 4am. He does not go back to sleep after this. He will lie down for a while after this but is just messing on and fidgeting. Ive tried a glo clock which didnt work. We are currently trying a reward chart to at least get him to stay in bed and rest. I have made room as dark as possible. He is just told its night time go to sleep ect. Today it was 4am and i told him off said it middle of night. He messed around so told him he couldnt watch cartoons when he gets up if he didnt try to get back to sleep. He didnt so i havnt put any one this morning. He stayed in bed till 6. We are down stairs now going to have breakfast and hes yawning away. He is so tired during day he has big bags under eyes, he is such a happy boy but by afternoon he so tired often cries he so tired. Twice this week my parents have called and he been so tired hes hardly played with them and been a bit huffy. Im aneamic and have vitamin D deficiency and am so tired. I think ive tried all the usual advice if anyone has any ideas would be very grateful. Thank you in advance.

[Sleephead1]

Oh and ive tried a nap in day. He may have 30 mins but then just makes going to bed worse and he wakes at same time in morning

[Sleephead1]

Well he was so tired today poor thing hes happily had a hours nap. So perhaps that will help ?

[Mrstumbletap]

Have you noticed it's worse now it's lighter earlier?

[Sleephead1]

Maybe thats what started it but its been 2 months and ive made it as dark as possible. So maybe its become a habit ?

[NapQueen]

Does he have a filling supper just before bed?

[FurryGiraffe]

You say as dark as possible- are you using a black out blind? DS1 is also 4 and had been getting progressively earlier and earlier with the light mornings, despite his room having good thick lined curtains. We now have a Gro-Anywhere Blind up on his window which makes it really properly dark- and he's gone from night waking and up at 4.45/5am to sleeping through and up at 6.15/6.30.

[Sleephead1]

Usually some multigrain crackers 2 or 3 and a cup of milk. Maybe should try something else. Any suggestions banana ? Toast ?

[NapQueen]

Porridge.

[Sleephead1]

Thank you for suggestion he wont eat it. Will eat homeade pancakes with oats in. I could try that tonight

[NapQueen]

Yep. Or weetabix with fruit in? Scrambled eggs and brown toast?

[Mrstumbletap]

Try putting tin foil on the window with a damp sponge just as an experiment, do it for a few nights and see if it being really dark makes a a difference.

And yes I second a big heavy dinner helps.