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3 year old won't sleep

8 replies

Bwbk · 08/03/2026 19:20

Hello so our 3 year old daughter goes to bed every night between 5 and 6 but always wakes up every night at 10pm and refuses to go back to sleep in her bed, I've had to get a z bed for the living room so she can sleep and I spend my nights on the sofa and she goes straight back to sleep until 5 to 6am every morning. I don't know what to do to get her to go back to sleep in her own bed. We got a night light so her room is brighter but I'm running out of ideas now

OP posts:
FlexiSadie · 08/03/2026 19:21

Goes to bed between 5pm and 6pm?!

goz · 08/03/2026 19:23

She’s probably thrown off because she’s in bed at 5pm.
Most 3 year olds would struggle to sleep without waking if they were out to bed at that time!

Sunflower1650 · 08/03/2026 19:30

Could you try aiming for a 7:30/8pm bedtime and see what happens? 5-6pm is very early for bedtime

saycheeese · 08/03/2026 19:45

Does she nap?what's her routine like? That's a very early bedtime she's already had 5 hours by the time she's up at 10pm. Could you push bedtime back to 7.30/8? Keep her busy and active during the day and evening before bed

goldenhunter · 08/03/2026 19:46

is there a reason she’s going to bed at 5/6pm?!

Helplessandheartbroke · 08/03/2026 19:55

Agree with others. 5 to 6 is tea time. 7 bath time. 8 bed time

Bwbk · 08/03/2026 22:26

She doesn't nap and we tend to do loads of activities throughout the day and that's just the time when she crashes out and falls asleep

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Itsalljustapuzzle · 08/03/2026 22:31

Could you just force a cat nap in the middle of the day to see her through another hour or two (car, buggy - buy a cheap one if she doesn’t still have one?) My four and a half year old cannot last a day without a sleep (but my two year old can!). She won’t be building enough sleep pressure to remain asleep from that time. Alternatively if she absolutely cannot nap, anything you can to keep her going calmly another hour, such as simple sensory play?

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