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#1
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4/5 yo sleep problem
My 4.5 yo outgrew her nap a year or so ago. She spends the day in
daycare so is up early in the morning (6:30 AM) She occasionaly falls asleep during the day/afternoon and takes a short nap (15 - 20 minutes). On those days when she naps she has a heck of a time falling asleep at night. Last night she was up until 10:30. Part of her problem I think is that she now gets so upset about not being able to fall asleep (Mommy, I just can't fall asleep!) that I think she is getting herself worked up enough that she's causing bigger problems. If she'd just relax, I think she'd have an easier time. When she's not tired, I don't have a problem with her sitting up with her light on and looking through her books. Problem is, she gets bored with that after an hour or so, but is still agitated about not being able to fall asleep so it keeps her up even later. Needless to say, I'm kept up too (which I wouldn't mind too much except I also have a 3 month old and I'm struggling to get at least 6 hours of (very interupted) sleep each night.) Any suggestions on how to help her? I know if she's not tired there isn't much I can do to make her tired, but how can I help her relax a little so she can drift off without getting all riled up about not being able to sleep? Hot milk? Boring TV shows? |
#2
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4/5 yo sleep problem
"KD" wrote in message ... My 4.5 yo outgrew her nap a year or so ago. She spends the day in daycare so is up early in the morning (6:30 AM) She occasionaly falls asleep during the day/afternoon and takes a short nap (15 - 20 minutes). On those days when she naps she has a heck of a time falling asleep at night. Last night she was up until 10:30. Part of her problem I think is that she now gets so upset about not being able to fall asleep (Mommy, I just can't fall asleep!) that I think she is getting herself worked up enough that she's causing bigger problems. If she'd just relax, I think she'd have an easier time. When she's not tired, I don't have a problem with her sitting up with her light on and looking through her books. Problem is, she gets bored with that after an hour or so, but is still agitated about not being able to fall asleep so it keeps her up even later. Needless to say, I'm kept up too (which I wouldn't mind too much except I also have a 3 month old and I'm struggling to get at least 6 hours of (very interupted) sleep each night.) Any suggestions on how to help her? I know if she's not tired there isn't much I can do to make her tired, but how can I help her relax a little so she can drift off without getting all riled up about not being able to sleep? Hot milk? Boring TV shows? My son saw a doctor who suggested a very low dose of Melotonin to help him fall asleep. He's very (extremely) energetic and gets very frustrated at night. He tells me he's SO tired but he just can't stop moving. So, we tried it (it's a naturally occuring chemical manufactured by the brain) in a .3mg dose, giving him two. They are capsules that we open and mix with chocolate milk. For the first time in two years, my child can go to sleep at a normal hour (not 11pm!) without struggling. He wakes up in the morning with a smile, on time for daycare. I'm so happy, I can't see straight. Of course, I'm sure some here will think we shouldn't do this (even though a doc told us to do it), but it's working and he's getting much more out of his day now that he's not dragging butt and grouchy all the time from being over tired. We tried milk (the calcium is supposed to help), a regular routine of reading and bath before bed, we tried forcing him to stay in his dark room with me for hours (this was pure hell and made me cry too many times from guilt) trying to fall asleep - - you name it, we've tried it. We've used the Melotonin for only just a week now, but my son is so much better during the day now. He's behaved, cheerful and alert - not tired, grouchy and unhappy. Sorry for going on so long, I'm just so relieved to be able to help him sleep!!!!!!!! Let us know how your endeavor goes - I'd like to see what other ideas there may be that I haven't tried yet. Mary |
#3
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4/5 yo sleep problem
"KD" wrote in message ... My 4.5 yo outgrew her nap a year or so ago. She spends the day in daycare so is up early in the morning (6:30 AM) She occasionaly falls asleep during the day/afternoon and takes a short nap (15 - 20 minutes). On those days when she naps she has a heck of a time falling asleep at night. Last night she was up until 10:30. Part of her problem I think is that she now gets so upset about not being able to fall asleep (Mommy, I just can't fall asleep!) that I think she is getting herself worked up enough that she's causing bigger problems. If she'd just relax, I think she'd have an easier time. I think this is the key. DS isn't as old as your daughter, but we also struggle with helping him learn to sleep--and sometimes I feel that he just keeps himself awake with figiting and whatnot. So we're trying to teach him how to lie still and relax. It's not easy at this age, but worth trying. I wouldn't let her have her light on, or books to read--too stimulating. I'd try a relaxing bedtime routine--bath, stories, warm milk or chamomile tea, etc. Make sure things are calm and quiet in the house for a good hour before you want her to go to bed. Consider playing lullaby music or trying some sort of white noise--a fan or a sound machine. Lie down with her and talk her through a relaxation exercise. "Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Feel your arms getting heavy. . . " Try to get her to imagine herself melting like butter or sinking into the mattress, or floating on water--something she can relate to. You might want to try leading her through some stretches before bed as well. I don't think I'd ever allow my kids to have TV in their rooms, but if you played a really boring video (thinking Baby Einstein type stuff--music and images), would she fall asleep? Just brainstorming here. Her schedule is busy enough that even with a short nap, she shouldn't have so much trouble at night. But some people (my brother is one) just have a really hard time being able to fall asleep. I have trouble too, sometimes--my brain just doesn't want to shut down, and thinking certain things makes me feel jumpy and wakeful. So I can sympathize with these poor kids. Summer is always worse too, with it staying light outside so late. Is her room nice and dark and cool? No great suggestions, sorry. Just some brainstorms. Hope you find a solution. It might not hurt to talk to her doctor for other options. -- Jodi SAHM to Oliver (3 years, 5 months) & Arwen (15 months) |
#4
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4/5 yo sleep problem
(KD) wrote in message ...
Any suggestions on how to help her? I know if she's not tired there isn't much I can do to make her tired, but how can I help her relax a little so she can drift off without getting all riled up about not being able to sleep? Hot milk? Boring TV shows? At the risk of developing another unwanted sleep association, you could try tapes/CDs. My kids listened to some wonderful bedtime tapes by Jim Weiss--you can order them from www.chinaberry.com. The tapes have 4 or so relaxing, quiet stories that gradually become slower and more settling, sort of like meditation tapes for kids. They served as a good bridge for my boys. Chris |
#5
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4/5 yo sleep problem
"Chris Himes" wrote in message m... (KD) wrote in message ... Any suggestions on how to help her? I know if she's not tired there isn't much I can do to make her tired, but how can I help her relax a little so she can drift off without getting all riled up about not being able to sleep? Hot milk? Boring TV shows? At the risk of developing another unwanted sleep association, you could try tapes/CDs. My kids listened to some wonderful bedtime tapes by Jim Weiss--you can order them from www.chinaberry.com. The tapes have 4 or so relaxing, quiet stories that gradually become slower and more settling, sort of like meditation tapes for kids. They served as a good bridge for my boys. Chris This is a good idea - This did work for me when ds was younger - there is one cd in particular that worked for him titled 'the floppy game'. Slow relaxation technique that's calming and cute at the same time |
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