Bedtimes for 3.5 year old.

by **jbnnl** on Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:23 pm

I need suggestions!

Our DD loves her afternoon naps but if she naps even for a mere 20 mins her bedtime goes from 7pm to 11pm. So I cut out naps as much as possible BUT if she doesn't nap she's ready to sleep by 5pm.

What should I do? She will actually fall asleep at the dinner table! :lol:

Tonight she begged to sleep at 5:3o, I gave in and she's wide awake (quiet in bed) now!

I feel like I can't win with her! LOL. she doesnt wake up in the middle of the night usually sleeps 12 hrs straight

On purpose? · by **On purpose?** on Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:25 pm

Can she nap earlier? My 3 year old couldn't sleep past 3pm if I wanted him in bed for 7:30pm. Or can she have quiet time in the afternoon instead? Still awake but veg?

by **jbnnl** on Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:40 pm

If she naps at 1 for even 20 mins bedtime is a disaster!! So nope early naps don't work and if I say quiet time she falls asleep where she is, living room floor, kitchen table, ect.

kapoohhh · by **kapoohhh** on Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:39 pm

Have you tried to nap her before lunch....
What time does she get up ? Does she sleep in ?
I would love my toddler that is almost 3 to go to bed earlier... All my kids go to bed before 8.

babbell · by **babbell** on Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:46 pm

I hear exactly what your saying. I haven't napped our guy who is also 3 1/2 since he was about 2 1/2 because of the same reason. If he naps he isn't tired until really late. If we are out and he falls asleep in the vehicle for even 15 mins then he is recharged and won't sleep. Usually he wakes up at about 8:00 and goes to bed ant about 8:30. I'm alright with that for now but soon enough our schedule will have to change. Earlier bedtime and earlier wake up time. Yikes and the same for me :shock:

carealot · by **carealot** on Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:13 am

is your child busy enough during the day, getting time to play outside everyday? I know bed time round here goes much better if my kiddos get a good hour of running around outside... we always stay to play outside at the school when we pick up the big one...

good luck...

LAMO · by **LAMO** on Tue Nov 15, 2011 4:19 pm

I had this same problem around 3.5 years. I used melatonin 1mg pills for a week to help change the schedule and then everything was good!

by **jbnnl** on Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:23 pm

yes she has her active days gymnastics, parks, daycare, outside playing and then she has her lay low days where she watches movies, plays inside and there is zero difference!

Last night she slept from 5:30 onwards, woke up briefly but nothing to complain about.

Today, no nap and shes out like a light at 7:05!

I asked lifestyles about melatonin and kids and they gave be this weird/bad look like I was wanting to drug my child, and she said it can affect their sex drive later in life. Is this true? It was lifestyles on Douglas.

I would just like to find her a happy medium because she is tired around 1 but I cannot handle kids up until 11pm so I do everything possible for no nap. It also sucks because it limits us for driving anywhere after dinner for ice cream, to play zone ect ect because she'll crash within 1 minute of being in the truck and even 10 minutes messes up bedtime!

Blacken · by **Blacken** on Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:52 pm

Our ds is like this (almost 3). Tough age when it comes to napping! lol
What we do is make sure our son gets at least two-three "quiet times" during the day. 20-30 mins of reading with him, or doing a quiet activity that requires little movement (puzzles, playdo, etc). I save higher energy activities for after food times.
So far it works quite well. He does get tired at about 5pm, whining, etc but I am able to sit with him and read a story or two while intermittently jumping up to check on dinner.