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Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

how early can I put DS (three) to bed????

17 replies

sparklemagic · 07/07/2006 12:31

help!

My 3 yr old DS is exhausted!!! Had a couple of late nights due to family things; usually in bed by six, last night it was 9!

He so needs some sleep but if I give him an hour's nap in the car now he will be up till 10 tonight so I don't think this will be any help!

Has anyone else put their kids to bed reaaaaaalllly early, did they sleep through till a decentish time??? As I say he is usually asleep by six so I am talking early here!

He's just so tired, can't play happily, is bashing everything in sight....trying to get him dressed has resulted in huge tantrum....etc etc

any thoughts????

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SecurMummy · 07/07/2006 12:33

All of mine, if they went to bed earlier than normal behaved as if it were a nap and woke up and hour or so later ready to play!

I woul be tempted to wait until tomorrow and try to get him to have 20/30 mins at about 11am and try to make it up that way!

sparklemagic · 07/07/2006 12:34

oh.....

see what you mean tho....

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Twiglett · 07/07/2006 12:35

put him to bed now for a nap

then put him down at 9 tonight

do it again tomorrow and put him down at 8

etc

SecurMummy · 07/07/2006 12:36

could you not give him 20 mins now? I knwo he would be grumpy as hec for the afternoon, but it might be enough along with a proper sleep tonight just to set him up better for tomorrow?

You would just have to be really determined about waking him up though!

waterfalls · 07/07/2006 12:36

I often put dts down very early, when they have had a couple of late night, many times I have put them down around 4.30pm and they sleep through, though I do wake them around midnight for a drink of milk.

sparklemagic · 07/07/2006 12:41

secur, if I give him 20 mins that really will be enough to keep him up till ten, it's happened before! then he's still getting only 7 or 8 hours sleep, which doesn't get us anywhere!

I guess I simply wondered if anyone had tried the four o'clockish bedtime, to get some extra hours in, and it sounds like it worked for you waterfalls, so maybe I will be decisive and go for it. He is a sleeper-througher in general, doesn't usually wake..

listening to him ranting at the moment, I'm thinking I'll try 2 o'clock and hope he'll sleep through

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SecurMummy · 07/07/2006 12:48

TBH none of mine have been early sleepers anyway - at this age dd2 would be up until 11pm every night - so naps were out of the question!

On the point of the nap though - I know he would usually stay up late - but he isn't usually this tired is he?

Anyway - hope it works well for you - I am so at you mums who have children in bed at 6pm!

Twiglett · 07/07/2006 12:49

how about some quiet time .. on couch .. in front of tv with something calming on .. just to recharge .. if he naps, he naps .. if he rests great

sparklemagic · 07/07/2006 12:53

thanks twigg, been there, done that for a surprising amount of time today but it just seems to have recharged him enough for extreme hecticness....and he has never, ever, fallen asleep during quiet time I think it's a matter of personal honour to him NEVER to let this happen

thanks for all suggestions though, keep em coming, but currently plan to have him asleep by four. Will update thread tomorrow to let you know what time we get up!!!!!!

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sparklemagic · 07/07/2006 13:17

no secur, usually he isn't so tired it's purely the late nights (bad mother alert!). We have the 6pm bedtime as he has ALWAYS risen around six, no matter what time he is put to bed - we had 7 to 7.30 for ages, but decided we'd try earlier as I believe kids his age need at least 11 hours a night. He certainly thrives on this, 99% of the time he sleeps from 6 until 5.30am/6am. (we have to be up at 6 anyway as my DH leaves for work at 6.30am so it fits in with us pretty well).

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SecurMummy · 07/07/2006 13:22

don't worry - young children cope with a break from routine occasionally - they ned to know that things can change without the sky falling in!

You do know thought that you have to come back tomorrow and say that he woke up 7 times during the evening and got up at 4am - otherwise I will be soo

sparklemagic · 07/07/2006 13:46

I'm SURE I will be able to keep you happy Secur

We are all quiet at the moment, watching cbeebies (see thread I've just started on chat, re child's name!)

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cleaninglady · 07/07/2006 13:47

sounds similar to my dd - she needs 11 hours or else its painful during the day!! usually in bed at 7 till 6am but if a late night the night before for whatever reason i sometimes have had her in bed at 6 - she will still sleep till 6am the next morning - think the awake time is set in stone but evening can be flexible - with both of mine that is. I would go for 5!!!

sparklemagic · 07/07/2006 13:47

thanks cleaninglady....can't wait!!!!

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sparklemagic · 08/07/2006 12:42

just thought I'd update in case anyone interested in knowing the result of this yesterday - he was asleep by 4.30pm!!!!! He woke at 6.30pm and my heart sank - but he had a drink, then played quietly on his bed, fell back to sleep at 7.30pm and slept till 7 am this morning!!!!!

so all in all it worked out brill, he so obviously needed the rest....

thanks for all replies!

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waterfalls · 08/07/2006 12:56

Brilliant

cleaninglady · 09/07/2006 20:27

yay well done - a relief i bet!

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