Any advice on sleep?!

[Eilatan2018]

3 year old… never slept well.
We have been isolating so I think he’s got separation anxiety… says he’s scared in his bed. Taking an hour or more to settle… says bed is scary despite bed time routine the same, door ajar, landing light on, teddy’s, blanket and my dressing gown to cuddle.

Screaming but almost a pretend attention seeking cry… we leave him and he gets so worked up.

He still naps for 45 mins around lunch time as he’s waking at 530am.

Waking in night coming in to my bed because I don’t have the energy to keep putting him back to bed a million times.

At 530 I try and ignore him for half an hour, let him watch something on my phone at 6 then eventually give in and downstairs by 630.

Just feel like our whole life is taken over by his sleep or lack of right now! Husband has been poorly with headaches and exhaustion related to Covid so although he tries to help (we have separate beds) I’ve done three mornings in a row and DS ends up in bed with me every single night so I don’t sleep well!

Any advice?!

Room dark but door open at his request (not enough for him to escape!)
White noise
Snack before bed
Bed time routine the same

Help?!

Is he eating enough and getting enough exercise in the day? I've always found that 3 year olds need plenty of running around in the daytime so that they are really ready for sleep at night. There are some ideas for bedtime snacks that help sleep here.

With the early wakings, I'm sure you have but have you tried something like a groclock? My DS woke early but we taught him to read 7 am on a digital clock and asked into be quiet until then.

I'd also have a look at the No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers.

@BunnyRuddington

Is he eating enough and getting enough exercise in the day? I've always found that 3 year olds need plenty of running around in the daytime so that they are really ready for sleep at night. There are some ideas for bedtime snacks that help sleep here.

With the early wakings, I'm sure you have but have you tried something like a groclock? My DS woke early but we taught him to read 7 am on a digital clock and asked into be quiet until then.

I'd also have a look at the No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers.

He normally does but hasn’t as much due to isolation but it made no difference before! Even when out all day having fun!

I’ll look at different snack ideas thanks.

We have a gro clock he ignores.

Yes maybe crying it out is next!

3 years old is the age for being scared of the dark, and scared of being alone, when neither were issues before.

Promise to stay upstairs while he goes to sleep - so he knows that he's not on his own upstairs. And for light, we fitted a dimmer switch to the overhead light so kept it on all night, but dimmed down. Door ajar until we go to bed and landing light left on all night.

Night lights x a million
Cuddle to sleep
Drop the nap
Loads of exercise