AIBU to expect my 3 year old to go to bed at 7pm?

[Fedupmum88]

Last night he only had 8 hours sleep. No naps at all today.

Today he’s had 2 hours at soft play, visit to grandmas house this afternoon and he’s still fighting sleep.

Surely he should be tired by now? 😬

In bed. 7pm. If only because YOU need a break.

Sounds like he might be overtired. Stick with it!

He's probably overtired now. That usually sends my DD feral!

Could he be overtired? Mine used to fight sleep if they were. I found at that age if they had no nap they needed to be in bed at about 6pm, 6.30 at the latest.

Yes, sleep breeds sleep. I would expect 12 hours per night for majority of kids at that age. Even if he’s dropped the day time nap he should definitely be in bed for 12 hours.

Voted YABU simply because 3yo are unreasonable. 7pm is, of course, a perfectly reasonable bedtime. My 3yo has actually gone to bed & to sleep tonight but it's the first time since Wednesday he's been in bed before 9pm (although in fairness he has been poorly & not sleeping well because of it). I'd agree with pp, he sounds overtired, I'd persevere.

I feel your pain... my son is the same age and takes time to fall asleep despite an early start and active day. Just seems to need less sleep than peers

Big glass of warm milk in the dark. Put 'relaxing piano music' on Spotify

He has to be tired, overnight perhaps.

My 3yo goes to bed at 7pm every night so YANBU

@ginberry4

Could he be overtired? Mine used to fight sleep if they were. I found at that age if they had no nap they needed to be in bed at about 6pm, 6.30 at the latest.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

6pm would be heaven!

He’s been in bed almost an hour and he still fighting it which is so annoying when he’s disturbing his older brother but I refuse to give in!

My DS is 21 months and will absolutely not fall asleep before 8pm and will absolutely not go back to sleep after 5.30am.

He might have a one hour nap if I'm lucky and he has only just started sleeping through this week after sleep training.

Toddlers are soooooo unreasonable!

Would you put him to bed at 7 and let him watch a film in his room for an hour. He will probably fall asleep before it ends anyway. X

I'd go for an audiobook or CBeebies radio rather than a film. Turned down quite low so he has to lie still to hear it!

2 toddlers here.

Fighting sleep has yet to be an indicator that they don't need it. Trust your judgement - they are only 3 after all

Definitely overtired, I think.

My LG is 3 and naps for 90m at home, 12.30-2, then will be in bed by 7.30 latest and sleep until around 6/6.30. If for some reason she doesn't nap we move bedtime to 6/6.15 and she's out like a light for 12h.

Try earlier tomorrow and see how you get on.

Some children needs to be really eased into bedtime. No bright lights, no screens, no loud noises, nothing stimulating etc. Have a calm bath, calm bedtime story etc.
Another vote for over tired from me.

My two are 4 in January... When they are fighting sleep because they're over-tired, we do a bath with the lights off (leaving the door open and landing light on, so there is enough light to see by, but only just), then feed them both half a banana and a small cup of milk. Then put them in bed with a "stay there, I'm just going to fetch something, I'll be back in a minute..." Give them 10 mins and they're asleep. Works every time, although luckily not needed too often!

Has he always fought sleep? DD needs less than the average child, would only average 11/12 hrs a day as a tiny baby when charts said she needed 14-16 hrs. As a nearly three year old she does roughly 9-7 overnight with a couple of wakes then a daytime nap.

She will only go to bed at 7pm if she’s been at nursery all day and had no nap. But then wakes up more in the night.

Some of them just don’t need very much sleep.

Since about 3 I’ve imposed a stay in your room rule and play even if not tired. I need the break and I don’t mind if she plays for a bit in her room. It’s generally led to far fewer battles. If she’s really tired she zonks out straight away but sometimes she’s up a good hour. Most of the time it’s about 15-20 mins and she just puts herself to bed when she’s done.

Def sounds overtired

Since my 3.5yr gave up naps (well I stopped them over aug as starting preschool so can’t nap)

She’s in bed 630

If I leave to 7 she’s grumpy and does get overtired
And can’t settle

My oldest had a child gate over his door at the age. Once he realised screaming an shouting didnt get mummy (I hid around the corner). He would get out of bed and rattle a toy along the gate (like a prisioner) then fall asleep on the floor.

Mines a veteran sleep fighter, he’s never had the recommended amount. Most nights he’s asleep by 8.30, if I’m unlucky it’s after 10. A nap generally makes it worse but if we are in the car it’s unavoidable. We went through a stage of going to bed by 7 and we were in bed a long time. Now we go when I’m ready
I miss my evenings

Wow mine didn't sleep for very long but even they would have been exhausted by now!

My toddlers go at 6.15 one gets up at 5.30 the other sleeps till 8-9

He's massively overtired

With little kids, overtired means they are running on adrenalin.

Parents try to tire toddlers out, when actually, they need to be in bed more to calm down the fight/flight.

He probably needs a nap mid-day -ish, and then def 7pm in bed. He's old enough at 3 to understand that he needs to be in bed at 7 - but that he can listen to stories (loads available online if needed) as long as he likes.