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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that reception is making my child too tired?!

20 replies

n33dmor3sl33p · 03/11/2023 18:41

I'm posting here for traffic but I'm a bit worried about the sudden change in my 4yo. She started reception in September and seemed to be doing very well with it and her teacher is pleased with her progress etc.

Half term hit and she seemed to crash! She kept saying that her tummy hurt and she was tired and having the most alarming meltdowns over small issues that she normally wouldn't. She went back to school after half term but fell asleep in class one day and she's been going to bed about an hour earlier than usual in the evenings. I can see her eyes are just so tired.

Is this normal?!

OP posts:

NeverDropYourMooncup · 03/11/2023 18:43

For Reception? Yes. It can be very tiring for them compared to Nursery, especially if they're younger.

But do keep an eye on it, in case it's her not doing well on school meals or getting unwell.

Cornettoninja · 03/11/2023 18:52

I think I would be tempted to get the GP to check her over based on how you describe her obvious fatigue and complaints of tummy pain. It’s most likely school but it’s also not beyond the realms of possibility there’s a vitamin deficiency or digestion issue that she just can’t articulate to you and there’s possibly something else going on.

Do you give her any vitamins and is her diet generally good? Is her toileting all ok?

Strawberryfieldsforeverrr · 03/11/2023 18:54

The clocks have changed as well remember. Reception is absolutely exhausting at first.

SausageinaBun · 03/11/2023 18:59

If she coped well for half a term, then I'd get her checked for health issues.

Rudolphthefrog · 03/11/2023 19:03

Tiredness and emotional volatility is normal to an extent, but not really the sudden change, the stomach pain or being so tired they fall asleep in class. I’d suspect she was unwell - any other symptoms?

InMySpareTime · 03/11/2023 19:18

Has she had a cold recently? Check her hearing is ok. My DS started falling asleep as soon as we got home from Reception, and it turned out he had glue ear which caused deafness. He was lip reading all day and was exhausted from it.
Once he got a hearing test and hearing aids he was his old self again, and he outgrew the glue ear at about 7 years old.
His hearing and energy levels have been fine since.

Elspethelf · 03/11/2023 19:21

I would see the Dr. Not saying it’s this, but around that age my husband developed oral allergy syndrome. He didn’t know how to explain what he was experiencing so he would say his tummy hurt. You can have a fatigue response from allergies. He went a long time before being diagnosed because symptoms are relatively mild and could be explained as other things. If you are concerned at all, it’s best to get checked out.

Lostmyway123 · 03/11/2023 19:27

We are going through something similar with my DS so following with interest. Doing great for half a term but then this week has been so exhausted and saying he doesn't feel well and doesn't want to go in (despite no obvious signs of illness). When he comes home he's fine at first and then mega cranky and having full blown tantrums which he had definitely been growing out of a bit.
I think it must just all be catching up with him after the initial excitement of school has worn off.

Coffeeandcrocs · 03/11/2023 19:29

Don't forget the clocks have changed...

Sartre · 03/11/2023 19:29

Totally normal. My DC used to have blistering meltdowns after school pretty much every day because they were just shattered. This went on throughout reception with the first term definitely the worst. They’re so small and if they didn’t go to FT nursery then they’re especially knackered because they’re just not used to it.

Seeline · 03/11/2023 19:31

How was half term? Was she able to just do nothing and recharge her batteries or was it quite hectic?

I think tiredness from reception is quite normal. Try and let her relax at the weekends and recoup some energy.

AhBiscuits · 03/11/2023 19:32

Both of mine were fine tbh, but were used to nursery 9-5, 4 days a week so maybe that made a difference.
It does sound excessively tired.

mynameiscalypso · 03/11/2023 19:32

My 4 year old is similar. He slept quite a lot over half term but has been getting up early this week with the clock changes. We've definitely had a few tantrums and a few headaches/feeling sick this week. We've cancelled our more active weekend plans so he can have a bit of downtime.

Danikm151 · 03/11/2023 19:33

They’ve had 7 weeks of a routine then half term has changed that.
the clock changes added in can add to tiredness too

Original poster

n33dmor3sl33p · 03/11/2023 19:34

Thank you everyone who has replied so far!

She has had a cold and has pretty awful barking cough now - the kind that goes on all night and makes her retch

She's also just started swimming lessons so has that once a week in the evenings, and half term was hectic - we did something fun every single day...

I am definitely going to take her to the gp to make sure she has nothing else going on but I feel like she probably needs a rest regardless of the cause!

Oh and she gets up at 6 and that's it, she won't lie in ever!

OP posts:

Hedgehog5 · 04/11/2023 09:58

Agree with everything everyone else has said about talking her to the GP.

It’s not that widely known but - until she’s compulsory school age (which is the term after she turns 5) it’s up to the parents whether they want to send their kids to school full time. If you really think she’s too little for 5 days school (and some 4 year olds are) then you could tell the school you want to try sending her 3 or 4 days instead until she’s CSA if that would work with your working pattern/childcare needs.

Catopia · 04/11/2023 10:15

n33dmor3sl33p · 03/11/2023 19:34

Thank you everyone who has replied so far!

She has had a cold and has pretty awful barking cough now - the kind that goes on all night and makes her retch

She's also just started swimming lessons so has that once a week in the evenings, and half term was hectic - we did something fun every single day...

I am definitely going to take her to the gp to make sure she has nothing else going on but I feel like she probably needs a rest regardless of the cause!

Oh and she gets up at 6 and that's it, she won't lie in ever!

She's probably still catching up on sleep if she's awake coughing all night. Give her a weekend off of just chilling and snuggling on the sofa and dozing if that's what she wants or needs. She may not necessarily "lie in" but it doesn't mean it has to be go go go activities, it can be reading books or doing puzzles or watching a movie.

She may also be allergic to swimming pool chemicals - I am - my parents forced me to Friday night swimming lessons and it would wipe me out every weekend. I was miserable. It wasn't until I missed the lesson for a week that it was realised that was what was making me so lethargic and ill all the time.

Moveoverdarlin · 04/11/2023 10:20

Aside from the falling asleep in class, my daughter is exactly the same. She’s tired and has constant meltdowns and often says she doesn’t feel well. But during half term we did nothing, I knew she would need it to recharge. So we stayed home, played board games, watched films. She’s quite small and just knew she needed to chill out. On days after swimming, we get home at 6pm, quick story and then she’s snoring for 6.30pm. They need loads of rest during reception.

BorisIsACuntWaffle · 04/11/2023 10:20

@n33dmor3sl33p if she's not had a rest over half term she will be exhausted.
School is full on.
Give her a chilled out weekend but take to docs for cough if no better next week?

zingally · 04/11/2023 10:40

Speaking as a reception teacher, the being very tired is normal. Especially when it dawns on them that school is a forever thing, not a "fun little thing I'm doing for a couple of weeks."

That being said, if she seems genuinely out of sorts, take her to the doctor for a check-up.

I always say to the reception parents that the key to success is, early nights, chilled weekends, limited extra-curriculars, and routine routine routine! At least until Christmas.

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