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Kindergartener with sleep problems, any advice?

PinkPianoPinkPiano
in School-Aged Children

My dd (6 years) started Kindergarten this year.  She's always been a good sleeper for the most part but since starting school she can't fall asleep at night.  We put her to bed about 7:45-8:00pm.  She is usually up around 7:00 or 7:30.  The problem is she can't fall asleep and is often up past 9pm or later.  She comes out of her room many times saying she can't sleep, stomach ache, headache, etc...  It's the same thing EVERY night.  In the morning she wakes up on her own just fine but would be more content to sit on the couch for a bit and watch tv rather than get ready for school.  She doesn't seem tired during the day but she has had some pretty bad mood swings that I think could be attributed to being tired. 

This was never an issue until she started school (she went to pre-school) and she's always went to bed at 8pm.  I did mention this to her doctor and he said just keep putting her back in bed and if the problem persists we'll discuss it more.  It seems to be persisting.  She loves school so I don't think it's related to her not wanting to go or being upset about it. 

Any ideas?  I'd be willing to let her stay up later if it wasn't for the grouchy mood swings but I really think she needs more sleep.

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Re: Kindergartener with sleep problems, any advice?

  • shopgirl78shopgirl78 member
    DD goes through this sometimes too.  I think its pretty normal.  Does she nap?  Could it be that she is actually napping a KG and that is the reason is staying up later and can't fall asleep?   Usually, I can tell if DD actually fell asleep during nap time or not...

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  • PinkPianoPinkPiano

    She doesn't nap...ever!  She has to be incredibly sick to take a nap.  I'm sure she's not sleeping at school, she's only there for 2 1/2 hours. 

     

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  • toyah81toyah81 member

    I was going to say the same thing about the naps but if she doesn't nap, then I'm not sure what else you can do.

    My DD1 is also 6yrs old but her bedtime has been 9:30 since she was in kindergarten and it's worked fine this year as well. She will take naps afterschool but only if she's just extremely tired for some reason (sick, field day or field trip at school etc.) She wakes up at 6:30 in the mornings.

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  • neverblushedneverblushed member

    Sounds like her sleep is disrupted because of the adjustment to the faster-paced, busier schedule of kindergarten.

    I would just stick to your routine and give her time to adjust.

    My son started K this year as well, and he's also had a few evenings where he's had a hard time winding down and going to sleep. 

    High School English teacher and mom of 2 kids:

    DD, born 9/06/00 -- 12th grade
    DS, born 8/25/04 -- 7th grade
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  • debbiezoeydebbiezoey
    imageneverblushed:

    Sounds like her sleep is disrupted because of the adjustment to the faster-paced, busier schedule of kindergarten.

    I think this.  She seems to be having a hard time winding down after an exciting new lifestyle!  Maybe a really warm bath right before bed and then allowed to read quietly in her room at bedtime will make her drowsy.  Maybe offer a reward if she can stay in her bed without getting up 5 nights in a row? 

     Good luck!

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  • QTeeQTee member

    My suggestions are make sure the house is calm the hour before bedtime. Nothing stimulating like TV or computer, etc. We do things like play a board game, take a bath, walk the dog, etc the hour before bed.

    Also, I let my daughter "read" to herself at bedtime. I put a light by her bed she can turn off by herself. When she complains she can't sleep, I tell her to read another book. When I check back she is always fast asleep with 20 minutes or so.

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