3 year old sleep problems

[henryhsmum]

Hi

I have a 3 1/2 year old who used to sleep really well - in bed by 8pm, slept til 6.30-7.30am. Now he is getting up at 5.30am every morning. it is driving me insane as I am a single mum and work full time and need some sleep! I've got blackout curtains and a blind in his room. I say to him its too early go back to bed but he screams if I try and get him back in his room and won't stay there not even to play and tries to get me out of bed by giving me my slippers, pulling covers off etc. I don;t want him up at this time but if he has to I just want to know how I can make him relaise he has to amuse himself til its a more acceptable time to wake up. At the moment the only thing that works is for him to watch a DVD diwnstairs but I feel really bad for this as he is obsessed with this.

What is a reasonable bedtime for this age - is being in bed and asleep by 8pm too early?

Help!]

Time for him to be introduced to Mr. Stairgate in his doorway?

Well the other day I found myself standing outside there thinking about locks, bnot that I would! I hadn't thought of a stairgate but its very tempting. Knowing me he's just climb it and one problem is my hoise has fire doors so he's end up trapping his finger or something trying to get out!

Will he cuddle up with you and doze for a bit?

I don't think you can make someone go back to sleep if they've had enough sleep - I would let him watch a DVD if it's a matter of survival!

He won't normally doze back off with me - pulls covers off me and shouts Mummy wake up,then starts bouncing on me - I think i will try a sleep clock and see if it works

Yeah I wouldn't do a DVD or anything fun or you'll never convince him to go back to bed ever again! It'll be "mummy get up and put my DVD on now" at 4am.