4 y/o not falling asleep at bedtime

fignewt74 · December 2012

DS has always been a great sleeper. In fact, we stayed with my parents in September for a week and they were commenting on how amazing it is that he can go from being super active to asleep in several minutes.

Unfortunately, ever since then, things have changed. A few nights per week, he seems to have trouble falling asleep at night. He doesn't cry, whine, complain or try to postpone bedtime - he just stays up. For a while, he would turn the lights on and read. We told him he is not allowed to do that, so now he just sits up in the dark playing with stuffed animals in his bed. We always put him to bed at 8pm, and when I go up and check on him at 9:00, he is just sitting there quietly.

Tonight he didn't fall asleep until after 10, and he wakes up around 7, so he is only going to get 9 hours of sleep - not enough for a 4 year old!

I am worried to the point that I think I am going to call the pedi about it, but just wanted to see if you experienced mommies had any suggestions.

TIA!

Mrs.Greg · December 2012

Does he nap during the day? My DD is 3.5 years old and up until about three months ago, she went to daycare full time. She would nap there and then have a hard time going to sleep at night. Like your DS, she wouldn't cry or anything, we would just hear her talking and playing in bed until as late as like 9 pm. Now that I SAH, she does not nap during the day and sleeps from about 7:30 pm to 7:30 or 8 am. She just goes right to sleep at bedtime.

ncsumommy · December 2012

I wouldn't call the Pedi either - or at least, if you do, I should too.

My DS does the exact same thing. He goes to bed about 8 - usually will stay up playing and talking to himself until 9-10. He gets up around 7, pretty much like clock work. I've done everything I can - I've even taken the stuffed animals out of his bed and he still just "hangs out" and talks and "plays". He does usually take a 2 ish hour nap at daycare but doesn't really nap anymore on the weekends.

I can tell when he's tired and he'll go to sleep faster on those nights but for the most part, he's not tired at all during the day. I think this is just a case of when sleep patterns change. If he's not cranky, obviously tired, etc - I think this is normal.

mrsseguin · December 2012

I wouldn't call the pedi...what is he gonna do? I'd put him to bed when you normally do and let him fall asleep when he falls asleep. You can't 'make' him sleep. I'd be happy in your situation that he's listening to you and staying in his bed and not getting up, or whining and crying.

brewcitybride · December 2012

My DD did this from August - October, after being a child who would be asleep right when her head hit the pillow, to it taking 45 minutes to an hour after light's out for her to actually fall asleep (sometimes more!). It was partially due to napping at daycare (she does not nap when she's home and falls asleep much faster) and honestly, I think a growth spurt. As we all remember when they were babies, any sort of growth spurt or developmental change usually shows itself in sleep patterns. Now, she's back to falling asleep within 15 minutes of lights out, sometimes faster, and she rarely naps. I would not call the pedi if there doesn't seem to be any signs of trauma or anything, and it's just taking him a long time to settle down! There's a lot going on in those little minds at the age of 4, a lot to work out!

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