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Sleep

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5 yr old sleep regression.

2 replies

HH93 · 02/01/2026 15:14

My daughter turned 5 only a few weeks ago.

Since the 23rd Dec she has REALLY struggled to stay asleep at night.
At first we put it down to Christmas excitement, only its continued.

She goes to bed fine, she’s always has a consistent bed time routine and she’s always been a good sleeper. So the fact she’s struggling now is completely throwing me.

She’s in bed, usually asleep, by 7.30pm.
Bath, bedtime story, pillow spray and relaxing roll on, white noise and nightlight (red light).

however, she’s waking up anywhere between midnight and 2am and is awake until 4am ish.
She is constantly back and forward from bed to my room, we calmly take her back and settle her before I leave. 2 minutes later we’re back to square 1 again. She will NOT settle unless we’re by her side.
again, this is out of character and is not something we’ve had to do with her.

When she was asked what was wrong, she didn’t really have an answer as to why she was up in the night, but she now says she says she’s ’scared of the dark’ but it’s not true let dark, I think she’s conditioned herself to say that as she heard my son say to her ‘oh what, was you scared of the dark’. So that’s been her answer going forward. I’m unsure if she really is or if it’s just the answer she’s sticking to now.

My son who is 9 was much tougher sleep wise whilst he was young but then when he turned 4 we didn’t really didn’t have any issues.

Anyone else had this with their 5 year old with seemly no cause?
im running on 2 hrs sleep a night and im beginning to not be able to function!!

thank you

OP posts:
Bitzee · 02/01/2026 15:34

She’s likely out of routine with it being the school holidays plus Christmas excitement and as they get older they do gradually need less sleep so maybe also a 7:30 bedtime is too early for her. I’d try an 8pm bedtime and keep your fingers crossed that it resolves next week once she’s back at school.

You could also try putting a small mattress on the floor of your room. So if she wakes she’s welcome to come sleep in with you but on the condition she doesn’t disturb anyone. I know ideal world she’d be in her own bed but everyone getting a good sleep is surely the priority.

HH93 · 02/01/2026 15:36

That’s what I’m praying for, that going back to school resolves it!

I willing to try a later bedtime but sort of reluctant too as she’s an early riser (between 5-6am) so I don’t want her to be overtired? Does that make sense?

yeah it’s something to consider, thank you

OP posts:
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