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Sleep

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Original poster

do you let an ill child sleep late, if it wrecks their bodyclock?

19 replies

hobbeschild · 25/02/2018 08:32

When my 4yo has a blocked nose, and has a terrible sleep, he understandably wants to sleep late in the morning. My instinct is to let him have as much sleep as he needs, because he's ill and it's restorative, right?

However, if I let him sleep late, then he cannot get to sleep until late the following night. This very quickly snowballs into extremely late nights that will have to be rolled back painfully at some point.

So, I wake him up at the same time every morning, and he cries he's so tired, and he has no energy during the day, and I feel EVIL.

Does anyone else have a child that will only go to sleep after they have been awake a certain number of hours? What do they do when they have a bad night and want to sleep late?

I have tried everything under the sun to stop him getting a blocked nose at night - I don't think there is any more mileage to be got in tackling that.
This is not just a problem once or twice a year - as he has just started school he gets every bug going. He was ill nearly the whole of the autumn term. I have accepted this is just 'life'.
If I let him sleep late every day he was ill, then he would miss school most of the term.

OP posts:

insancerre · 25/02/2018 08:35

I would never wake a sleeping child unless I really had to
His lack of sleep could be contributing to his being so poorly

Original poster

hobbeschild · 25/02/2018 08:42

That is my gut-feeling too. But if it means he's up late the following night, how do we ever reset?

OP posts:

ineedamoreadultieradult · 25/02/2018 08:47

I would just send him to bed at bedtime wether he is tired or not.

MrsJayy · 25/02/2018 08:50

I wouldn't wake an ill child up let him sleep once he is better he will regulate how late is he stating up til?

Desmondo2016 · 25/02/2018 08:50

You're over thinking it. Just let him be ill/sleep for now. Then when he's better he goes to bed at bedtime whether he likes it or not.

starlightafar · 25/02/2018 08:52

Yes I would let them sleep. Their body needs to rest. He will revert to regular routine when he's better.

Original poster

hobbeschild · 25/02/2018 08:58

ineedamoreadultieradult I do put him to bed at bedtime but he lays awake for hours (usually 13 hours after he woke up). A sick and unhappy child left alone for a couple of hours with nothing to do is not my idea of good parenting either.

Desmondo2016 it wouldn't be the first time. What would you do about bedtime the first night? Normal time and sit with him?

OP posts:

Original poster

hobbeschild · 25/02/2018 09:01

He has had the current virus for 2.5 weeks. If we added an extra 2 hours every night would will end up living nocturnally for a while and eventually come back in line with the real world!

OP posts:

Desmondo2016 · 25/02/2018 20:06

You are really over thinking it! Just chill, maybe put him to bed a little later the first night and wean him back to bedtime over a couple of nights. At 4 I would imagine he could lie and look at some books etc if he doesn't want to go straight to sleep.

halcyondays · 25/02/2018 20:09

I would let him sleep. Yes it might take a bit of time to get him back into routine but when he's better and going to school he'll be getting up early which should mean he's tired at night.

FATEdestiny · 25/02/2018 22:24

You're over thinking it.

My 3y6m oldf ius currently on hold. Bedtime is around 3h later than normal and lunchtime nap has been skipped or is a faction of the usual length. Really no biggie, holidays are exciting times with loads happening.

She can and will catch up next week.

FATEdestiny · 25/02/2018 22:25

Hold = hols = holiday

Twogoround · 25/02/2018 22:59

When he is better wake him up early and get him ready fir school if you have time run him around walk him to school.or if at weekend wake him up and and have busy busy day out side so he will sleep.

JudgeRulesNutterButter · 25/02/2018 23:14

A sick and unhappy child left alone for a couple of hours with nothing to do is not my idea of good parenting either.

If this is a cold the child has, I wouldn’t really have a problem. Maybe send them to bed half an hour later, make sure they are not distressed, that’s about it.

My DD will lie for a long time awake, ill or not, if she can’t sleep for whatever reason. As long as she’s not upset, I figure at least she’s resting and I leave her to it.

Original poster

hobbeschild · 26/02/2018 09:16

Thanks. We all agree I should let him sleep. But yes, it is only a cold. I don't think a cold/sniffle/sorethroat warrants a day off school - otherwise, like I said, he would be off all term.

But he was up half last night, so I have let him sleep, he is still asleep now (it's 9am) and will miss school. He is past the worst of the virus and it is only a blocked nose. But I do believe he needs to catch up on some sleep so he can be strong again.

Tonight he will not be able to sleep until gone 10pm even if he goes to bed at normal time (this is not me over-thinking - I have tried it many times). He will sleep for about 11 hours. So even if he sleeps well, he will not be awake in time for school tomorrow.

I will see how long it goes on, now that he is getting more rest. Then I will do that busy busy outdoors day. Thanks.

OP posts:

Desmondo2016 · 26/02/2018 11:01

Ok I think you've moved from over thinking to over complicating! Wake him up in time for school!!! He'll get back right soon enough but the real world is going to come as a real shock to him if you continue to micro manage every last iota of his routine.

MyDcAreMarvel · 26/02/2018 11:05

Just let him listen to audiobooks. On the day he is well enough for school he will just be tired that day.

TheVanguardSix · 26/02/2018 11:14

I agree with others. Wake him up for school when he's well enough. Even if he's gone to bed late the night before. The sooner he gets back into his normal daily routine, the easier he'll settle at night. Swings and roundabouts, OP.
Don't worry about the busy, busy outdoor day. It's freezing out there!

JudgeRulesNutterButter · 27/02/2018 08:01

Yes from your last post OP, it sound so like you’re describing that he is well enough from school and yet you are planning on him missing 2 whole days.

Even if you feel he absolutely HAS to sleep late, he could still go. If he sleeps till 9 you could surely at least get him to school for 10. And having a busier day at school ought to perk him up and get him back into his normal routine, assuming he’s well enough.

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