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Overtired nearly 3 year old / bad behaviour - help’

9 replies

Llamasally · 27/03/2022 20:18

Almost 3 year old DS has always been a good sleeper and been reliably 7-7 for a long time.

Lately he’s started both waking in the night shouting for me or DH with some seemingly baffling problem or request. Sometimes more than once. Then waking at 6 or earlier saying he’s not tired and wants to get up and play. Then is sometimes not having an afternoon nap (I do think he still needs this, he can be out for up to 2 hours when he does have one and is very very busy and physical) all of which culminates in him behaving like the spawn of Satan by about 5pm, inevitably ending with him a sobbing mess between 6-7 and falling asleep the second his head hits the pillow. He was almost asleep watching one of his favourite programs today.

We have given him a cup of water for in the night, a nightlight which he can control, black out blinds in case it was the light mornings. Not making any difference. He’s getting very rough and violent with me and his sister now when he gets to the evening stage and is also getting me on my last nerve being very defiant - looking me in the eye and laughing as he does the opposite of what I’ve just asked.

Please help me get his sleep back on track?!

OP posts:
Llamasally · 27/03/2022 20:19

Also to note, we’ve been restricting his nap if he has one to an hour since this started, no difference

OP posts:
Llamasally · 28/03/2022 00:55

Bumping

OP posts:
CousinDelores · 28/03/2022 00:59

I had a similar sounding 3 year old DS, always been a good sleeper till he wasn't Hmm I also had a sobbing mess from tea time onwards, tbh I just took him to bed earlier and if he woke up earlier, let him watch TV in my room until the usual time we would get up.
Probably not very helpful, sorry, but just so you know your not alone in it. He did start sleeping again as normal about 4 months later, maybe it's just a phase

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Duracellbunnywannabe · 28/03/2022 08:52

I would try two weeks of no naps. You may need to bring bedtime earlier.

Llamasally · 28/03/2022 10:59

@Duracellbunnywannabe I wondered that, but then thought he might end up more tired and grumpy?!

OP posts:
Duracellbunnywannabe · 28/03/2022 11:06

At nearly 3 he is probably ready to drop his nap. You can give it a go and if it doesn’t work change back.

Russell19 · 28/03/2022 11:10

Is drop the nap too. He may be tired at first around tea time but try to keep him awake till 7 or 7.30pm to reset the 7 til 7 pattern. If he stops waking early then the tea time tiredness might improve

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 28/03/2022 11:17

Give up the nap- have down time with tv or tablet for 45mins or so around nap time- just during the transition.

TooMinty · 28/03/2022 12:16

No further advice but my DH and I used to call 4pm "arsehole o'clock" as that's the time our kids started acting up...

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