I'm at a total loss, the title pretty much explains it. My almost six year old will not sleep past 4am and I feel like I've tried everything! Of course I can't have so I'm posting for other techniques/advice.
He goes to bed between 7 and 8pm, but wakes around 4am EVERYDAY. He's been the same since day one, as a baby I sort of accepted it, as a toddler I struggled through thinking it'll pass, but now it's affecting his school work and his behaviour. It's also having an impact on his younger brother and sister, let alone exhausting me.
So here's what I've tried:
- Keeping him up later for a 3 weeks, as the odd night makes no difference. He did start to sleep till 5am around day 4 but by day 9 he was back to 4am. By the end of the third week, his behaviour was horrendous so I dropped the later bedtime, and started to put him to bed earlier until eventually we were back to the 7.30 bedtime we began with. At least he was now getting a couple hours more sleep between 7.30pm and 9.30pm
- Used a clock. This is still in operation though he totally ignores it. I did digital clock "can get up when this says 6" and covered the minutes. Also used a normal wall clock, background coloured in red other than between 6 and 8, and explained the little hand etc. They've been in action a year, I still remind him before he goes to sleep. He ignores them.
- Also still do. Take him back to bed and tell him he can only get up when mummy comes in to get him. Problem is he shares a room with his 2yo brother, he sings, shouts, throws things, climbs in and out of bed and wakes his younger brother. AND this is providing I hear him wake up! He's like a ninja, I swear! He creeps downstairs, puts a dvd on and eats his way through the kitchen, without either me or my oh hearing him. It's dangerous! He knows the dangers, I tell him everyday. I even resorted to teaching him how to make his own breakfast (not toast) just so I know he's safe. Terrible mother alert.
- Removed toys and TV from bedroom. There's literally 2 beds and a set of drawers in there. Nothing to stimulate him.
- Fed him up before bed. He has tea after school at 4.15pm followed by yoghurt/treat, then couple of biscuits at 5.30pm, followed by toast/cereal/some kind of supper at 6.15pm before bath time. He's not hungry, he's not waking for food though tbf he's just waking to wake up.
- Exhausting my voice explaining the rules over and over.
- Reward charts, praise and treats. Each time he stayed in his bed quietly waiting for me he earned a sticker on his chart. Five stickers = a special treat. This chart has been in action a year, it's refreshed every fortnight, and still haven't got five stickers in the fortnight! It started as 7 stickers, but I lowered it to 5. I don't want him reading when he wakes, I want him to sleep
He goes to bed absolutely fine on an evening. But after a 3am battle today, I'm at the end of the line, I need help. I've cried to the school but they said they don't have any resources to help out of school.
So has anybody got any tips? I'm willing to try anything! I just know if I can get on top of this early rising, I'd be able to get his behaviour in check.