Advice needed. Six year old barely slept last night… should she go to school?

[pinkleavesandtea]

It’s my child’s birthday today and as can be expect she was very excited. So by the time she fell asleep was 9pm. We co sleep and I remember her waking at around midnight for about half an hour and then she woke again from 2.4-4.30. I managed to get her back to sleep again. But she needs to get at 6.45 to get to breakfast club! I feel mean sending her in to school if she’ll be knackered. But also think I’m being a bit meladramatic. I’ve only had a few hours sleep myself so maybe overly anxious. Any help or words of support to let me know she’ll be ok.

She will be fine. Send her in.

The excitement will keep her going.

Yes of course she has to go to school. She can go to bed a little early if she is tired later.

Yes of course she goes to school. Being a bit tired isn’t a disaster. She will be excited for her birthday too and it will help carry her through.

Yep send her in. It’s Friday and lots of kids are tired by Friday regardless of late nights. She’ll be ok (and so will you!) l. She’ll be able to recharge her batteries this weekend

Adrenaline will keep her going. It’s fine.

Thanks for all your replies. She’s six today! She’s always been low sleep needs. Just overly anxious as I’m about two hours sleep and spent ages planning today with a family bowling trip at 6pm! Also had hoped she’d be up early to enjoy her gifts, but looks like we’ll have the usual morning rush 😂🤪

Also, realise my messages make no sense haha!

Id send her. My child has always been a terrible sleeper, and has done full days of school on 2 hours sleep before now. Just let them know she didn't sleep well and may be tired/out of sorts. Mine is better now, but will occasionally still be up late and/or in the night. If he sleeps longer in the morning, I let him stay there for as long as possible before I need to wake him up.

She'll also miss the birthday-ness of school too if she doesn't go!

Thanks @HikingHippo I will wake her in 45 mins! Gives me time to get dressed etc and so all my focus can be on helping her get ready xxx

Ah, she’s so excited, bless her. Make the most of this age OP!

I think she’ll be absolutely fine at school. The excitement of her birthday will get her through and then she (and you) can have a good sleep tonight with it being the weekend.

I hope she has a lovely day. 🎈 🎂

To many mumsnetters disgust, my kids have had a couple of birthdays off over the years and still remember them now so although mumsnet think it’s terrible, it’s not the worst thing if you didn’t send her. 😉

Aww thanks @DanceInSlowMotionfor the lovely message. I’m a single mum, so always feel pressure for the day to be perfect and when she still couldn’t sleep at 4am I got snappy with her - then followed with sitting with her stroking her face to send her to sleep!!! Why didn’t I do that at 2.30am! Mind boggles!!!

Bless her ☺️ being excited and Lord help you at Christmas!
She'll be fine going on, it will probably catch up with her tomorrow. Hopefully you can have a chilled weekend.

She will love the fuss of having a birthday at school at this age!

Could she have a nap before bowling? I know that may be a disaster for her sleep tonight though!

Hope she has a lovely birthday, and may caffeine power you through your day 😊

I have a question unrelated to your issue..I was just wondering if she’s shown any interest in moving to her own bed or if you have a plan for when to stop co-sleeping?Asking because I have a dd who’s also almost 6 who I co-sleep with. She hasn’t shown any interest in moving to her own bedroom even though I’ve decorated it really nicely and she has a princess bed and everything! I don’t mind her sleeping in my bed. I’m single so there’s no man to kick out! But I was just wondering around what age they stop wanting to…

@Shallysally@QuirkyHorseagain thanks for comforting replies! I’m sure when I wake her with presents she’ll jump up haha xxxx we have a busy birthday weekend too!!

Yes, of course.

@Fearlessslothno she has shown no interest! My ex and I split when she was one and I was always putting her down in her cot and making her sleep there. But my ex didn’t want to settle her time and time again and so started co sleeping. So in the end through pure exhaustion and every weekend having my hard work undone I started co sleeping too! I have no problems with her consenting, she also has a lovely bedroom but if it means more sleep for me it’s a winner. Funnily enough her dad now has a girlfriend and is very keen for us both to get her to sleep in her own room!!!

I agree to send her in. Could you let her sleep a bit longer and skip breakfast club? I imagine you use it so you can work but if you were considering keeping her off for the day it sounds like you have other options for this morning.

You enjoy the day too mama, it’s really sweet, I can feel your excitement for her too from your posts! Have fun, expect her to come home shattered :)

No one is genuinely ‘low sleep needs’ op.
Shes not a biological exception to humanity!
She should definitely go to school. She’ll sleep well tonight!

It's her birthday - let her have the day off the enjoy it. It's the one, most important, day of the year

If you have the option to keep her at home do you not have the option to skip breakfast club and bring her to school for the usual time so she can sleep a bit longer? I’m sure your work would prefer you phone to say you’re going to be late than phone to say you’re taking a whole day off.

Came to say the same - a bit of a lie in could take the edge off it.

Happy birthday to your DD! Hope you both enjoy the celebrations.

She needs to go to school If you could let her stay home then cant she skip breakfast club? Have a nice birthday start to the day.

My kids an awful sleeper so it doesn't sound too bad a night! Plus I remember never sleeping on xmas eve from excitement and never having an issue on the day

Hope she has a great birthday