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Sleep

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Original poster

Sleeping lengths for a "new" 3 year old..

19 replies

shhhh · 26/05/2008 16:52

DD has just turned 3 and has always been a good sleeper.
Her sleeping pattern is
7pm-7/8/9am (varies but I never let her go beyond 9am although allow her to wake herself iykwim)

She also has an afternoon nap for usually 2 hours. Again this varies and sometimes due to other things she sometimes misses out completly or I cut it to 1 hour but most days she has 2 hours. Although as above if she wakes or won't sleep its not an issue and I get her up.

Is this correct..? I spoke to my HV about 6 months ago who said continue till she stops...

DD doesn't go to a nursery etc so is with me and along with having ds I guess im pretty keen on routine and having the day planned. Maybe this is why of the above sleeping pattern..

Today we were out and lunch was late so neither started nap time till 2.30pm and due to me doing other things only woke about 4.30pm (usually given these circumstances I would cut this down..)..dh thinks this isn't right..

any advice.?

BTW, DD usually asks for a nap..she tells me just before lunch she is tired and that she wants to sleep so its not as though I out her there kicking and screaming.

OP posts:

sophiewd · 26/05/2008 16:54

If she wants to sleep let her, she is obviously one of those children who need more sleep than others, especially if the afternoon nap doesn't affect her night.

snickersnack · 26/05/2008 17:00

Sounds fine - dd dropped her daytime nap quite abruptly just after she turned 3, but until the day before her last nap used to put her cutlery down after lunch and announce "bedtime". Didn't seem to affect her night times. A friend's nearly 4 year old still has a 2 hour nap after lunch.

The only problem with naps at that age is they do make life rather inflexible - much easier when they stop needing them. Fortunately ds is a sleep anywhere, anytime kind of boy (during the day, at least)...

Original poster

shhhh · 26/05/2008 17:01

Thanks for the reply sophiewd...I thought the same and said so to dh BUT he added up her waking hours and said she is asleep much more...

She is a live wire when up as well and is on the go at 100mph...I guess she needs sleep time to recharge..??!

OP posts:

fishie · 26/05/2008 17:02

gosh. ds (also just turned 3) usually sleeps from 8pm-6am and has one hour nap 2-3x a week.

dropping even a few naps has been vile and awful - i've just had to wake him up he dropped off on sofa - so do try every other day to see what happens if you are going to experiment.

will your dd go to sleep at 7pm after waking at 4.30? ds would be up till midnight (and still awake at 6am gah)

Original poster

shhhh · 26/05/2008 17:04

see thing is snickers if we are out (and late home)she is fine and can drop off in the car onway home and thats her nap done and dusted but won't sleep in her pram for example and doesn't get ratty out if the nap is missed YET when home and in routine will sleep no problem..

Hmm maybe the daytime nap will be dropped soon like your dd did.....although must admit it does give me time to sort thing....

OP posts:

sophiewd · 26/05/2008 17:05

She sounds so much like my DD, either on the go or snoring

Original poster

shhhh · 26/05/2008 17:10

sophie, yup thats exaclty dd (must admit..very much like me......)Now ds..Hmmm..he's the exact opposite... Like dh.

Fishie,Im not keen to drop it iykiwm unless its not good for her as having a 3yr old and 16 month old my days are mad..

When she wakes late like today, yes she will go to bed at 7pm. tbh she has never really been one to get affected by it and does go to bed without any issues..
I know, I know we have good children. I soooooooooo apreciate how lucky we are.

OP posts:

yummymumkte · 26/05/2008 17:13

Hi,
my dd is 2 but has a similar pattern to yours. Some children just need a lot of sleep, its fine, don't deprive her she will only be miserable and make your life a lot harder.

My dd infact is asleep now, I'm just about to get her up and she will still be ready for bed by 7.30 latest, its just the way she is and I realise how lucky I am, especially 8mths preg as it allows me to rest too! but when we need to go out, she doesn't get a sleep and that is fine too (she won't sleep anywhere else but her bed) she just goes to bed earlier or has a lye-in. DD too is 100mph when she is awake!

Sometimes they continue to want a sleep in the day until they go to school, if that is the case just go with it.

Original poster

shhhh · 26/05/2008 17:32

YM, thats a reassuring post. Thanks .
Thanks everyone for the advice. x

OP posts:

sophiewd · 26/05/2008 18:00

yummy - i'm 8 months pregnant aswell and heres hoping the next one is the same

NotABanana · 26/05/2008 18:02

My son is 3 n3xt month, sleeps 12 hours at night and 2 and a bit in the day.

Original poster

shhhh · 26/05/2008 19:23

fingers crossed for you sophie&yummy .

Gosh, I loved the naps dd had when I was expecting ds and once he arrived I guess he fell into her routine...he tends to be good with the afternoon naps yet wakes several times at night mainly for a dummy..oh and milk.. And at 15 months doesn't seem to keen on dropping the milk feeds... Not ideal at 3am..! This is where the similarities with dd stop..!!!

Good luck x

Thanks NAB. x

OP posts:

yummymumkte · 27/05/2008 10:27

Shhh, they are never the same are they!?!

I hope you get some unbroken nights soon, I'm not good with no sleep so trying to get some extra in now, not sure it would be enough for the next 15mths though, I'll be back on here in a few months saying MAKE IT SLEEP! [GRIN]

Thanks for good wishes, also to you sophie, when are you due? I'm 8th July. Hope you are well.

Katie x

sophiewd · 27/05/2008 12:01

19th June

BeauLocks · 27/05/2008 12:03

My 3 year old sleeps 7 - 6 and doesn't nap at all. He dropped his nap just before he was 3.

Egg · 27/05/2008 12:07

My DS1 is 2.3 and he generally sleeps 7:30 to somewhere between 7 and 8am. He always naps in the day and rarely has less than two hours. He very often will sleep from 1:30 to 4:30 but I won't let him sleep later than 4:30 and usually try to wake him by 4pm. When he is at nursery though he rarely sleeps longer than an hour at lunch.

I am dreading the day he drops his lunchtime nap. It is my saviour! I met a lady with a 4-year old boy who still had a 2 hour nap at lunch so am hoping my DS1 is the same.

LittleB · 27/05/2008 13:12

Hi Shhhh, I remember you from our May2005 thread. Sounds like you are very lucky to me, if dd is sleeping well at night she obviously needs her daytime naps too! My dd sleeps from about 7 until 6-7 am and doesn't nap at all unless we got out in the car, she's never napped for 2 hours, but she does have quiet times in the afternoon, with cBeebies, books or storytime. If its not a problem I would keep letting her nap while she obviously still needs it.

Original poster

shhhh · 27/05/2008 15:22

Thanks littleb, its lovely to hear from you .

Hope all is well with your lo's..? I tried to find our "due in may05" thread to see how everyone was doing (if still around) but gave up....

Seems im very lucky with dd.

OP posts:

LittleB · 27/05/2008 15:36

Yes shhhh, i think our May thread disappeared ages ago, I did come across myermay the other day though and she's fine. I just have dd, and she's lovely! Has her stroppy moments as they all do, but I love listening to her making up stories and songs, chatting to her friends and other lovely things like that! Lately she keeps waking at night with nightmares, which is why I'm on the sleep thread, hopefully someone will come up with some good suggestions, or I'll just manage to break the cycle, she does have happy dreams too, the last one was about being a butterfly, but she was awake last night worrying about 'nasty wolves' poor poppet.

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