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Original poster

End of tether with 3 yr old

7 replies

Muppet7410 · 04/10/2019 06:27

Early mornings, broken sleep, and won't fall asleep alone = tired grumpy mummy and tired grumpy 3 year old.

We have a bedtime routine, always have done. He just will not sleep. We've been awake since 4.30. I lay next to him in his bed trying to get him back to sleep but to no avail.

I'm at a loss as what to do. I need sleep and so does he as we are both turning into horrible people.

Help me!!!

OP posts:
Babs5693 · 04/10/2019 18:39

What time does he go to bed? Does he have a nap still? Has anything changed or has he always been like this. Sorry lots of questions, I’m in a similar situation my 3 year old wakes multiple times in the night, screams and shouts at the top of his lungs, I end up sleeping on his floor just to get some rest and do t know how to break the cycle but he’s always been up in the night.

Original poster
Muppet7410 · 05/10/2019 06:11

He goes to bed at 7, sometimes he crashes out earlier in the sofa and I have to carry him up. He doesn't nap, it became a battle that stressed us both out so I dropped it. He doesn't wake in the night often but he will shout, shriek make noise until I go into him in the morning and will request all kinds of demands.

I'm sorry to hear you are in a similar situation. Its so tough

OP posts:
Babs5693 · 05/10/2019 09:01

It is really tough and I tell myself it won’t be forever and I will get my own back when he’s a teenager! You might not like this suggestion but it did work for me when my son was getting up early (I have it in the night now) but I I send to give him my phone to watch tv on while I got a bit more sleep at the side of him or just to test my eyes most of the time, the other thing is a gro clock it didn’t really work for us but other people say it does for them.

HJWT · 05/10/2019 09:21

@Muppet7410 we really struggle with DD and her sleep, as awful as it is I put the blue screen on her tablet and she watches that till she falls asleep, if she wakes in the night ill lay with her for 5/10 mins till she falls back to sleep which 9 times out of ten she will, if she doesn't then I give her the tablet and go back to bed and she will go back to sleep after a while... not ideal but otherwise she just gets up and turns the light on and stays up ALL day from 3am!

Original poster
Muppet7410 · 05/10/2019 10:24

I have a tablet which he watched from 5am this morning after shrieking at me to lie in his bed which I refused to do. He came into my room once his sun was on his clock. I'm glad I'm not the only one using this tactic. I keep thinking it will get better but nope. I think it has got worse the older he has got as he has a voice and an opinion!

OP posts:
HJWT · 05/10/2019 11:09

@Muppet7410 It is absolutely exhausting, the fact I am going to have a newborn in a week is scaring the life out of me! Im not going to be able to function 😥

Notodontidae · 05/10/2019 11:38

Not sure what your Bedtime routine is, but first of all in order to sleep, body and mind should be in sync. outside play before last meal, bath time, min half an hour after meal, or gentle play. small cup of water before loo and brushing teeth, read or tell a story before bed. Avoid scary or over exciting TV, Tablet, etc, and certainly none after 6.00pm.
Consider a slightly later bedtime if DC wakes too early.

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