Why won't my 4 year old DD sleep?

[littlestgirlguide]

I have a Dd who is just turned 4. She is absolutely fine at the bedtime routine - makes little or no fuss when it is time to get ready for bed (about 6.45-7pm) bath or wash, teeth, toilet, pj's, into bed and a story. This routine haant changws much in the last 3 years! Then we turn the lights off and up she gets, toys out, won't stay in bed, chaos and noise and NO SLEEP! It is routinely 10 pm before she starts to quiet down. Her bedroom is dark (as it has always been) and I appreciate that it is very warm at the moment but this has been an issue since before the nice weather. She has to be up at 7 for nursery so I can get to work and she's so tired in the mornings. What can I do?!

Hey little

I feel your pain - I have this on occasion with my DS who is 3, and it's so tiring, you just want your evening to be peaceful!

Does your DD nap in the day at all? If so, I'd probably get rid of that. DS definitely more alert at bedtime if he has even half an hour now. The other thing that worked for us (and when I say work, I mean took quite a few weeks to embed), was a gro-clock to encourage him to stay in bed (but we mainly needed this because he wakes between 4.30 - 5am every day), and also a sticker reward system thingy.

I just used a poster from his favourite comic and bought some stickers from the supermarket. Started with one night at a time then built it up to three, then to the weekend, when he'd get a trip to the shop with Dad to buy a toy.

In the meantime I had a few charity shop things hidden away so that in the morning he'd get a treat. He also has a fruit smoothie in the morning if he's had a good night/morning.

Is she starting school this year? Could be anxiety about that maybe? Don't know for sure, but have heard from friends it can happen.

HTH!

xx

Thanks sharks.
She doesn't have a nap in the day anymore, not for over a year. I did wonder about a gro-clock, but she's not a problem in the mornings! I think I will try a sticker chart and see how we go, I can't cope with working all day and this all evening, and she can't cope with the late nights!

Does she get any sleep at all. If DS falls asleep for even five minutes in the car he's awake at least an hour later at night. I have to feed him sweets and shout and sing with him to keep him awake on the journey home from pre-school.

Sorry I have no other advice though. DS has always been crap at going to sleep on his own.

No sleep at all!
She wakes up if left about 7.30, but I usually wake her about 7am. On a weekday, She goes to preschool/nursery at 8, and doesn't sleep there. She doesnt sleep in the car anymore. We get home about 5.30-6, have supper and a a play and then start getting ready for bed. She is clearly tired , and the bedtime routine is usually fine, the chaos only starts when I kiss her goodnight and go out of the room!

Could she be scared of the dark?

Also, have you thought about cranial osteopathy? It really works miracles.

I am pretty sure she's not scared of the dark. She's never complained about scary things or been upset at being left - its more that she's just wide awake and bored of being in bed so she gets up and plays!
I've cleared out her room today, trying to make it a bit less cluttered and more sleep-friendly rather than a playroom full of toys iykwim, got her a fan and just covered her with a sheet, also given her a cool bath so she's got damp hair which should all help to keep her cooler and more comfortable.
I've also decided that we will try the supernanny approach and got a sticker chart.... She was quite taken with it, but it still took 25 minutes of rapid return before she has consented to stay in bed. Hopefully it will get better night by night, tonight is 2 and a half hours better than last night!

Good luck little - sometimes it's just good to talk it out on here, find an idea you were considering anyway then give it a go for a few weeks!

Hope tonight is better for you, and stock up on those rewards!!!

Thanks folks :-)
I've been to the range and spent £4.50 on pocket money toys (mini plasticine set, bouncy ball, windmill things, sticker book, etc - got quite a lot for the price actually!) and promised her a prize from 'mummy's special bag' - a reused hello kitty gift bag, if she can go straight off to sleep. She didn't get a prize this morning, but was able to tell me why, let's see how we get on tonight!
You're right, shark, it does help just to talk about it! Makes you remember it's not just us!