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Original poster

6 year old won't sleep :(

6 replies

Ancfib · 05/02/2023 05:18

I am loosing my mind a bit and don't really know what to do.

She always is an early riser.. like 6 am. That's fine, it's a bit annoying on the weekends but it's okay. This past week has been hell. She is waking up at 4.30-5 or like this morning 3.30!!!! Nothing has changed in her routine, she always goes to bed at 6.30-7pm. Friday night I kept her up until 8, and she still woke up at 4.30. it's not like she just wakes up and plays on with her toys either, oh no, she wakes up everyone. It's driving me mad. Her behaviour has always been a bit tricky but this past week she has been horrendous. Constantly screaming and throwing fits like a toddler. I can't get through to her either, she must be tired!!! But she won't sleep. It's not like she spends all day Infront of the TV either, we take her out and keep her busy as she has this crazy amount of energy all the time.

This morning she got in our bed and started jumping around and I thought I was going to start crying. I work early shifts, I start at 5.45am. so it's been so tough for me, I can't sleep until late recently, I think it's because I'm so over tired.

If anyone has any advice it would be appreciated. I don't really know where to turn too.

OP posts:
Covetthee · 05/02/2023 05:56

I would think 6:30-7 is far too early for a 6 year old? My 4 year old is in bed by 7 and is usually asleep by 7:30/8ish after a bit of playing in her bed and she is up at 6:30 latest. I think an average 6 year old has 9-10 hours sleep so it’s understandable she is waking early

i know you said you tried later bedtime, but I think you need to do consistently, doing it once won’t have an affect.

could you get a gro clock, so that you can explain to her when its blue it means sleep time etc? and for when the she does wake up could you encourage reading a book/playing quitely until everyone is ready.

it sounds tough so I hope you manage to find a solution that works

boboshmobo · 05/02/2023 05:58

At 6 surely you can tell her off and to go back to her room ! I wouldn't be letting her bounce all over me if she is old enough to understand it isn't acceptable.

Caspianberg · 05/02/2023 06:04

Seems very early bedtime. My 2 year old needs very little sleep it’s seems, so he usually goes to bed around 8.30pm (asleep 9pm ish if lucky). Then he’s wide away still at 6-6.30am most days.

He fell asleep in car the other week around 6.30pm so we lifted and put straight to bed. He was wide awake by 3.30 am ( and lasted all day until the next evening 8.30pm). He doesn’t nap anymore

Original poster
Ancfib · 05/02/2023 06:10

boboshmobo · 05/02/2023 05:58

At 6 surely you can tell her off and to go back to her room ! I wouldn't be letting her bounce all over me if she is old enough to understand it isn't acceptable.

Oh, I do!! I feel like I have been on at her a lot recently and I feel bad.
Her behaviour has always been challenging, sometimes it's okay but yeah she is by no means an easy child. I try my hardest to stay calm but then she walks all over me, when I am firm she just zones out and does listen. I am constantly asking her to stop doing things or to listen. Nothing ever changes. Again I don't really know who to turn to, I know her teacher struggles with her too :( she has loads of energy and is very defiant. It's always been quite hard.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ancfib · 05/02/2023 06:13

Covetthee · 05/02/2023 05:56

I would think 6:30-7 is far too early for a 6 year old? My 4 year old is in bed by 7 and is usually asleep by 7:30/8ish after a bit of playing in her bed and she is up at 6:30 latest. I think an average 6 year old has 9-10 hours sleep so it’s understandable she is waking early

i know you said you tried later bedtime, but I think you need to do consistently, doing it once won’t have an affect.

could you get a gro clock, so that you can explain to her when its blue it means sleep time etc? and for when the she does wake up could you encourage reading a book/playing quitely until everyone is ready.

it sounds tough so I hope you manage to find a solution that works

Thank you, I have now ordered a clock..

I will try later and stick to it. She just has never really had an issue before, like she has gone to bed at this time for years, and she always gets tired and starts asking for a bath.. she also gets quite hard to manage when she is tired. She falls asleep normally within 10 minutes. But I will try tonight and stick at it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ancfib · 05/02/2023 06:16

Caspianberg · 05/02/2023 06:04

Seems very early bedtime. My 2 year old needs very little sleep it’s seems, so he usually goes to bed around 8.30pm (asleep 9pm ish if lucky). Then he’s wide away still at 6-6.30am most days.

He fell asleep in car the other week around 6.30pm so we lifted and put straight to bed. He was wide awake by 3.30 am ( and lasted all day until the next evening 8.30pm). He doesn’t nap anymore

I think it's because she was always been fine with this time and it's the literal over night change I have found strange, she had naps until she was about 3! Always slept really well as a toddler and baby. And I am fine with 6-6.30 am, I mentioned to someone else that she is alseep within 10 minutes when I put her to bed and she starts to get tired around the same time.. but I will try and consistently keep her bed time later for a couple weeks and see if that helps.

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