I don't want to do this anymore

[DueyCheatemAndHow]

I feel so utterly trapped.

Son is 3.5. He has always been high maintenance - needed lots of input, not happy alone, used to do about 8 dirty nappies a day. He is relentlessly exhausting. Meltdowns at the slightest thing. Talks non stop - and I really do mean that. Demands input with everything - doesn't even like me on my phone when he is watching TV. I'm impatient with him - I feel like I spend 90% of my time repeating instructions. Even to the point of being like 'ok spit'. Right let's keep going' with toothbrushing.

It's compounded by very early waking - I mean 4am sometimes. About 6 weeks ago I trialled later bedtimes and he did about a week of waking at 6-6.30am. He was so so much better. Much more even. A delight to be around.

But things are slipping again. 5.30 d'art every day. Then he is knackered. Then he naps at lunch and we push bedtime back til 8 and then 5.30 it all starts again.

I don't want to do this anymore. I feel like a ghost.

If he naps in day, does he still go to bed at reasonable time? Or does the nap ruin bedtime? If the nap isn't affecting bedtime, keep on with it while he's so tired. Overtiredness won't help anything.

My son was a very early riser. 5.30/6 most days. I used to curse the baby groups that didn't start till 10 because I'd been up for 4/5 hours already 😬. He's now a teenager and would sleep in till midday if I let him. So it's all just phases.

No it doesn't affect bedtime.

He hasn't had a nap since I started this thread. But today he was up at 4.15.

How is he supposed to last the whole day now?

I'm so fed up of it.

Sorry OP, I have no advice whatsoever but just wanted to let you know that you are not alone.

I have literally just created a thread about my 3.5 doing exactly the same thing. Everything, and I mean everything, you have written, down to your son’s mannerisms, identical to my daughter.

I am honestly at the end of my tether. She sleeps until 7:30 whenever she sleeps anywhere else! Which just makes me feel even worse.

Will be watching this thread for the advice and in the hopes that you manage to find a solution also!

Best of luck OP 💐

We also had an early riser. I tried everything but nothing made a difference so I snuck with naps until he started school. I needed that break in the day!

Your DS sounds like a real character, mine was similar. School will help, it'll give you a rest if nothing else! You're nearly there!