How long does it take your 4 yr old to go to sleep?

[duvet]

DD1 4 yrs 3 months takes between 20 - 60 mins to fall asleep last couple of nights it has been more like 1.5 hours. She goes to bed at 7.30 and is often awake between 6 - 6.30am so is tired by then. We do story and bed routine dont know what else I can do to help her sleep more quickly. It's frustrating because if we have a babysitter (not very often) she is still awake before we leave and then plays up and comes down or stays awake even longer. Any suggestions or is this normal for a 4 yr old.

[Toothyboy]

Some nights it's 10 minutes, some nights it's 1.5 hrs. I don't think the lighter evenings and the humidity are helping at the moment.

I don't have any advice really, other than trying to make sure she's completely exhausted by bedtime!

[duvet]

Thanks yeah I wondered if the humidity might be hindering. It's good to know I'm not the only one, becuase I was starting to feel a bit mean for putting her to bed too early maybe, but then she seems tired.

[babyblue2]

anytime between 5-10 mins, unless she's fallen asleep in the car and it can tke longer. On an odd occassion we have a babysitter we sometimes put both dd's (4 and 2) to bed 30 mins early (doing routine) and they don't notice.

[duvet]

Wow babyblue that's handy, 5-10 mins they must shattered. The only time dd1 is like that is if we've been walking, but I cant do long walks everyday.

[babyblue2]

I say 5-10 minutes, thats the eldest, the youngest whose 2 can play for up to 1.5 hours in her bedroom (if she's had any form of day time nap-even just 15mins). She's happy though so just leave her to it. Has stairgate over her door so she can't escape!

[Lazycow]

I do actually think some of this is genetics and the ability to switch off easily as well as how tired we are.

For example, dh gnerally takes up to an hour to fall asleep at night if not longer. The only times he takes less time are if he is really really shattered and has been sleep deprived for a long time.

We often joke that the first year of ds's life (not a good sleeper) was one of the few times in dh's life where he rarely had trouble falling asleep . dh says unles he is really shattered, he finds it difficult to switch off and relax enough to fall asleep.

I on the other hand fall asleep in less than 1-2 mins if I'm really shattered and generally never take more than 10 mins or so even if I don't feel that tired before getting into bed.

Unfortunately ds seems to have inherited my volatile personality and ds's sleep habits/patterns, it would have been much better the other way round!!

[mozhe]

5 minutes.

[Anna8888]

duvet - can't you put her to bed a bit later?

[ChasingSquirrels]

5 mins to 2 hours. average is probably 15 - 30 mins.
it depends if he is tired, if he isn't he plays quietly, in his room,, looks at books etc. i have just given him an old cd player and he has some tapes/cds etc (he is now 4y9m but he has been like this since about 2.5/3).
i am happy withh this cos I still get me time in the evening, and he seems ok - if there is anything seriously wrong he comes down to me, otherwise he just sorts himself out and turns off the light and goes to bed when he is tired.
he gets stories and a cuddle at bedtime then i leave him to it.
if he was staying up late and then tired the next day i would address it though.

[mustrunmore]

Until last week, about 5-10 mins.
Now he has no dummy, its been 30mins-2.5 hours

[paulaplumpbottom]

About 10 minutes. Is she getting enough activity during the day?