How do I get DD6 to stay asleep?

[ntburns22]

DD has always been an early riser, but latley it is getting earlier and earlier. This morning she got up at 5:15. The night before she woke up around 3:20 ready for the day. She did eventually go back to bed after watching the figure skating rebroadcast. DH is working nights so I had her just get in bed with me and I fell alseep with my TV on. So that is my bad about the ice skating at 3 in the morning. SHe no longer naps and she hasn't been falling alseep until close 9. We put her to bed around 8:20 much to her dismay since it is American Idol time. How do I retrain her internal clock?

 

[Hannathy]

Put her to bed later. She obviously doesn't need as much sleep. My Son who is a bit older only needs 9 hrs. max. He doesn't go to bed to around 10. Every child has their own requirements.

 

[RadioNate]

Actually all experts will say to put her to bed earlier. Sleep breeds sleep. The more she sleeps the more she'll want to sleep. Backwards logic I know but google it, you'll see. IT has somethign to do with them being overtired.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

I have to kindof agree with Nate.

Melatonin has really been helping us out with my DD 7...at least in the "getting to sleep" category.

I can't tell you much about the correct dosage for your DD.

I feel your pain, though. Our DD is up 2-5 times every night...and she waits until I JUST get back to sleep to wake me again.

 

[mickeyboat]

Actually all experts will say to put her to bed earlier. Sleep breeds sleep. The more she sleeps the more she'll want to sleep. Backwards logic I know but google it, you'll see. IT has somethign to do with them being overtired.

I agree with you RadioNate. This is the advice I have heard as well. Last night my kids fell asleep at their grandfather's house at about 4PM. DH woke them up to bring them home at 7:00. They went back to sleep at 8:00 and slept through the night - the best sleep they have had in weeks.

Here are another couple of ideas:

Does your DD have light-blocking shades? Does she sleep with a fan or white noise machine? Is she having nightmares? Is she drinking too much before bedtime causing her to wake up and use the bathroom? Maybe addressing some of these concerns will help her sleep through the night?

Denae

 

[minkydog]

Make it very boring at your house. If she wants to get up, require that she not get into your bed and not wake you up. If she does, there should be concequences or loss of privileges. You do not want to reinforce this behavior with rewards(like watching TV at 3am or getting to "play" in Mommy's bed.) I don't think melatonin will be appropriate in this instance. You usually use that for getting to sleep, not staying asleep.
Do you think she is anxious because her Daddy is not home at night? Some kids worry a lot when all there "peeps" are not home.

 

[ntburns22]

Thanks for all the tips. My TV is not normally on during the night. It was a one time thing. My DH works a wacky hours so that isn't a problem with her. It is all she has ever known. MAybe tonight I will try running a fan. I have been having my own issues with falling asleep. Not being able to sleep through the night and getting up so early is really wearing me out.

 

[Nicolepa]

Teach her to tell time. When my 5yo was about 2-3 I had to teach her to tell time. If the first number on the clock was less than 7 then she had to go back to bed. She is not allowed to wake us up before 7:00.

In the summer here it starts getting light around 4am. She thought if it was light, she could get up.

My 4 yo ds got up at 6:30 this morning because it was light out. Guess it's time to teach him his numbers!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Teach her to tell time. When my 5yo was about 2-3 I had to teach her to tell time. If the first number on the clock was less than 7 then she had to go back to bed. She is not allowed to wake us up before 7:00.

In the summer here it starts getting light around 4am. She thought if it was light, she could get up.

My 4 yo ds got up at 6:30 this morning because it was light out. Guess it's time to teach him his numbers!

That is exactly what we just did with or 4yo DD. It seems to work most days. She just doesn't need as much sleep as her older sister does.