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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How can i encourage my DD 3.5 to sleep later

21 replies

LucyEllensmummy · 20/02/2009 10:34

Our get up times this week have ranged from 4.30 to 6, its becoming a habit, this inspite of her probably going to bed on average at 8.30pm.

I hate getting up that early as i just end up all bedheady and irritable.

Any ideas (apart from locking her in her room!)

OP posts:

LisaLessLumpy · 20/02/2009 10:41

Its hopefully just a phase... my ds1 3.6 has some weeks of getting up at 5am ish then the next week it catches up with him and it reverts back to 7ish.
Have you thought about something like this

Not cheap, but it helped my niece who had the same problem at age 3

Dropdeadfred · 20/02/2009 10:43

Is she able to amuse herself in her room at all? Read books, draw pictures? What does she do when she wakes?
God, I could NOT ever get up that early!! Sorry for you!

Original poster

LucyEllensmummy · 20/02/2009 10:58

Am loving the clock - will get me one of those!!! Seen those before and thought them a bit naff - now i can see how wonderful they might be. I am so not a morning person.

She is not very good at occupying herself - so her first words when she comes into the room is "please play" and usually shoves ponyville ponies into my face. So i am flutterfuckingpony from 6am onwards. I try to stick her in front of the TV and get a few ZZZs on the sofa (bad mother) but it never works and often just makes me feel even more knackered.

Worse part of it is, i just don't seem to be able to go to bed early - i spend most of the day fantasising about my bed (honestly - how sad is that!!!) but still end up staying up til at least 11, often 12 or 1!! Even if i do try and go to bed, im wide awake

I'M KNACKERED!!!!!

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anchovies · 20/02/2009 11:12

We got one of those clocks and it has completely solved the problem. I have 2 ds's aged 5 and 2 and they both sleep longer now and rarely wake up before the clock at 7 (used to get up between 5 and 6). We even sneakily change it to 7.30 at the weekends!

sarahrhianna · 20/02/2009 16:23

Can't see the link but I think it may be the same clock we just bought at the weekend.
It has a bunny asleep and one awake and it has been worth the £30 it cost and more.

DD (23mths) normaly gets up at 5:30 and has been coming into bed with us until 6:30 where she wriggles and moans about getting up and it has been driving us MAD. With number 2 due in 3 wks we had to do something.
On the 1st morning she slept until 8 am and today until 7.30 which she has NEVER EVER done before and on the other mornings has at least stayed in her own bed whinging until 6:30. I feel like a new woman!

I LOVE THAT CLOCK!

Original poster

LucyEllensmummy · 20/02/2009 16:30

I SO need one of those clocks, we are skint to the end of the month - but i will find a way

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tigermeow · 20/02/2009 17:38

We bought a cheap digital clock from Argos (3 quid) and we told DD (3.10yrs) that if the first number was a 3, 4, or 5 she would have to go back to sleep. If it said 6 or 7 then she could play quietly in her room until our alarm went off. It took a few nights, but now it is working really well. We leave puzzles, paper, pens and books on her desk and she can help herself. She knows she is not allowed to leave her room until the alarm goes off. Naturally we set the alarm later for the weekend!

Nightcrawly · 20/02/2009 17:56

I am deeply envious of all of you who the clock worked for. My DD 2.8 has no regard for such things, she knows what she is supposed to do, she just doesn't care!

Blondeshavemorefun · 20/02/2009 18:33

sure i will be booed for this but

i would just take her back to her room and tell her to go back to sleep/bed and keep repeating till message sinks in

may take a few night/up to 2 weeks but sure message will sink in IF you repeat yourself

its FAR too early!!

at 3 she is more than capable of amusing /playing by herself/looking at books/doing simple jigsaws etc till 7am

Original poster

LucyEllensmummy · 20/02/2009 19:39

It just wouldn't work in our house blondes - my DP would never do it (wuss). I think we should do the clock and go for a reward if she manages a week - DP is though, but that is because the bloody puschair has just turned up its toes and we need a new one - despite her being almost too old, i walk a lot and need it for longer walks etc.

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tigermeow · 20/02/2009 21:13

What about making her walk more so she is so tired out that she sleeps better.

Do you have black out blinds in her room? DD needs a very dark room to sleep in. I know people who have used black bin liners to black the room out.

Does she like jigsaws or drawing...could you leave some on the floor of her room so she can help herself in the morning. You could try bribing her with 'if you stay in your room for 10 days then you can have a new pony' or whatever she is into.

sprinklycheese · 20/02/2009 21:18

LEM - this is for another thread really but how long is long for the walks? I find it hard to believe that unless they are more than a couple of miles that you really need another pushchair at 3.5. How about getting her a scooter?

sprinklycheese · 20/02/2009 21:19

Should have said of course if she has physical special needs that would be different re the pushchair - my comments assumed she hasn't.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 20/02/2009 21:25

Argos have similar clocks to those but much cheaper. They have a variety of characters. We've got an in the night garden one and it's been really good. Our mornings were starting at 5.30am, now it's 7.15 (or bit later at weekends!!)

bodiddly · 20/02/2009 21:31

another vote for the clock .. we bought one for ds and it works! One thing I would advise is to combine it initially with a sticker chart for the week. Get her excited at the prospect of a reward or treat at the end of the week and ensure she understands it is tied to her staying in her bed until the light comes on the clock .. but make it an achievable time - you can always move the time back a little every day. Our poor ds has his set for 6.15am weekdays and 7.15am for weekends!

Original poster

LucyEllensmummy · 20/02/2009 21:34

sprinkley, not THAT far tbh, i have tried with the scooter - nightmare, she doesn't seem to be able to co-ordinate for it. Was thinking of getting one of those expensive three wheeler ones, but i dont want to splash the cash if she wont use it and she has shown no interest in her friends scooters. We have tried her bike but she had a bad fall on it and has lost her confidence.

Walking to playschool is a 20 minute powerwalk, with her walking we are looking at an hour - which in itself i don't mind, but its an hour of her whining and crying because she cant walk any more and wants to be picked up.

But yes, was hoping to lose the pushchair over the summer - she starts school in september, but was hoping for a more subtle transition .

Thanks for the Argo link - that is more within our budget right now.

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Original poster

LucyEllensmummy · 20/02/2009 21:36

Its the weekends that are the killers tbh - DP has to leave at 6 ish all week, and we would both kill for a lie in at the weekend - but nup, no such luck. Tried taking turns but she only wants Daddy when he is home - so he has to get up, i do try and stay in bed but end up feeling guilty and getting up.

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smellen · 20/02/2009 21:44

We used a clock with success from about 2y, but he started waking at night and earlier in the mornings from about 2y 9m, so now combined with reward chart seems to work. He gets a star for every night we don't see him before 7am, and play him against DS2 (who is too young to know he is participating!) - the "winner" each week gets some chocs on the Sunday. Has worked a treat.

sprinklycheese · 20/02/2009 22:07

LEM I see where you are coming from re the walking - tricky one. That is quite far from the sounds of it if it's going to take an hour.
But you're going to have to bite the bullet sometime and it might be better to get her used to walking faster and for a bit longer now rather than when she's tired from starting reception? Is there a compromise e.g. taking the bus part of the way.

Obviously if her 'proper' school is closer than preschool in which case that should be fine anyway!

But I just find it hard to hear of buying another pram when a child is 3.5, never mind continuing to use one you've already got...

specialmagiclady · 21/02/2009 00:55

Clock good - in my family it had to be coupled with reward chart. Now he lies in bed shouting "is it 7 o'clock yet"..

which is kind of shit but he only starts doing it around 6.45 so you can forgive

Original poster

LucyEllensmummy · 21/02/2009 08:28

8 o clock this morning!!!! Thing is, ive been awake since 6 because DP is working and i didn't allow myself to go back to sleep because i was expecting the thump thump patter of feet into the room at any minute. DP home tomorrow - what are the chances of a repeat performance??

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