How tired should a 4 year old be?

[Spottybotty20]

Ds has just turned 4, he’s with my in laws 2 mornings, in private nursery 2 mornings (both from 9am) and with me on a Friday. He’s in school nursery 2.5 hours every afternoon. The mornings with me and with in laws are very relaxed just playing in the house because I also have a 1 year old. He sleeps 11/12 hours a night 8/9pm to 8ish hasn’t napped during the day for about 2 years.

When I pick my son up from school I often get “he’s been fine just very tired”

He’s been dragging his feet about going to school this week so I asked the teacher if he’s ok and again she’s said he’s happy in school but often tired.

Lots of his friends go to clubs/groups after school but I think he would be too tired and get grumpy so I’ve booked him in for weekend activities.

Is this normal tiredness or GP appointment tiredness?

It sounds really normal to me. Is he maybe due a growth spurt?

My DD is nearly a year older than that, rising 5, and still she and nearly all of her classmates have at some point fallen asleep on the rug during storytime at the end of school!

@SarahAndQuack thank you, I’ve just read another post about 3/4 year olds needing a pushchair which has reassured me too.

My 4 year old sleeps 9pm-ish - 7amish daily. Doesn't get tired & has to be "wound down" before bed. Rarely naps but if she does it's like an hour & then she struggles to go to bed for a night of proper sleep.

Sounds normal. I'm a little jealous, as no matter what we do, I just can't tire my 4 year old out enough. When he started Reception I was looking forward to him being tired, but it never materialised

My son was unbelievably hard to tire out at that age. I could have had him out all day climbing mountains and he still would be bouncy off the walls when we got home. When he started nursery school he had his first nap for nearly two years! School wears them out especially when they're little. I think of it like work. I'm knackered after work so they're knackered after school. They learn so much, all the social side to navigating 20 odd other people, it's usually play based so quite active. It's mentally tiring as well as physically. My son went to morning nursery and I don't think would have survived the afternoon session without me being called in for a few break downs! So I think your son is doing quite well.

It's three different places with three different sets of rules: nursery, his grandparents and yours. Perhaps he is finding that a bit tiring?

How's his diet? Enough iron and green veges?

This isn't meant as a criticism (my own DC's childcare was patched together in different places) but two different nurseries on the same day, plus sometimes being with grandparents is a lot for a small child to process.

I'd try to rearrange things if at all possible to jump about less between childcare settings.

Oh, and I really wouldn't pressure yourself re activities. He's socialising a lot already and doesn't need even more structured stuff either after nursery or at weekends.

My DD is 3 and sleeps 8-8 and still has a 2 hour nap daily with no signs of being ready to stop. I think it’s really normal for all kids to have different energy levels

What a pp said about it being a lot. Two different nurseries, plus grandparents? Then weekend activities? Too much.

He's going to bed too late also. That's not enough sleep for that age. He should be in bed by 7pm.

@dipdye

He's going to bed too late also. That's not enough sleep for that age. He should be in bed by 7pm.

www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/how-much-sleep-do-kids-need/

Let's not spread myths - the NHS advice indicates he's getting a perfectly decent amount.

Private nursery/school nursery is tiring. My daughter is non-stop and races around all day. She needs to be tired out. Even as a baby she would be non-stop all day every day.

I would keep after nursery/weekend activities to a minimum. My daughter goes swimming on a Saturday for 30 mins and that’s it. Otherwise it’s normal activities like visiting relatives, day out with family, going to the supermarket, etc

I think it sounds within the realms of normal

My DD is 4. She goes to school nursery 9-3 mon-Fri. Sleeps 7-7 approx. we do one 30 min dance class a week. Weekends a mix of family activities and also some where we don’t do much. Some days she is just really tired, especially by the end of the week.

If she stays up late (like 8pm on a weekend sometimes) then she is definitely tired by bedtime the next day, even if she sleeps in a bit to make up for it (not always the case). Most weeks we’d do a 6.30 bedtime at least once, and usually she’d sleep past 7am every day.

Nursery have only commented once though that she was visibly tired in the afternoon and that’s after a weekend away

@dipdye

He's going to bed too late also. That's not enough sleep for that age. He should be in bed by 7pm.

Why does he need to be in bed by 7pm when he doesn't get up until 8am?