How to get a four year old on a sleeping schedule?

Question

She goes to bed around 12:00 or 12:30 a.m. and doesn't want to get up until 12:00 p.m.When I get her up early she will go back to sleep and wake up in the afternoon so I am still staying up late at night.How do I break the cycle?Is something wrong with her?

Answer 1

There's nothing wrong with her, I had the same problem with my son. I know it's easier said than done, but put her to bed at 8pm. lay with her, if she thinks this is a game get up and leave.The way I broke my son was I put him to bed early whether he was asleep or not and I got him up at 6am everyday, even if I didn't have to get up that early. I kept him busy and alert all day, most kids are tired after being up for about 5 hours so just get her past that point. It took about a week but now he tells me it's time for bed at 9:30pm. I hope this helps you some, believe me I understand. Good luck.

Answer 2

I'm having a hard time imagining what a child does until midnight. I sure hope she's not watching those nasty cartoons on the Cartoon Network or South Park. But, she is you child and you are the adult making the decisions. Sit down and tell her she's missing out on the best part of the day by sleeping until noon. Tell her that you are going to start playing outside in the morning (or find a class at the Y like swimming lessons or a little exercise class, basketball or indoor soccer--it's not very expensive) so there's a new bedtime schedule so you can do that. Tell her bedtime is at 8:00, 8:30 or 9:00. Start eating dinner at 6:00, bath at 7, story time and then watching a short Dora or Backyardigan movie and then it's bedtime. Let her pick out the pjs she will wear, the books to read and movie to watch out of two or three that you've picked out that aren't too long. Put her to bed, let her have a nightllight, music on the radio or a little flashlight. If she comes out, put her back and keep doing it until she get's the message that you mean it. Make sure she gets outdoor time every day and have her ride a bike with training wheels, a big wheel or some such thing where she blows off some enegry. If you can't keep up with her by walking, get yourself a cheap bike from Wal-Mart and ride behind her. God bless you.

Answer 3

No, there is something wrong wtih you. you are the parent. Put her to bed at the time you choose, for example 8pm. She may lay there awake the first few times till she gets used to it. But 12 hours is 12 hours no matter what time of day it is. Then wake her at 8am even if she's only been asleep for 8 hours. In a week she will be on the new schedule, BUT you can't leave it up to her. Of course she will fight going to bed, she might miss out. But you are the parent and you have to take control away from her. My guess is she is just following your schedule, so maybe you need to make some changes yourself.

Answer 4

Nothing is wrong with her!! You cant put a kid to sleep that late at night and expect her to get up at a appropriate time. Has she ever gone to bed at a normal time? Any reason why? Kind of hard to start now but not impossible. She should have been going to bed around 8pm (at the latest) for her age. She is old enough to understand why. Keep her busy during the day and have only one nap after lunch and put her to bed around 7:30-8pm after supper, bath, story time, etc. Develop a consistent routine that is appropriate for a 4 year old.

Answer 5

Become a sleep nazi. Get her up at 8 a.m. and keep her moving. Do not let her go back to sleep. Take her for a walk, run with her around your yard. Do not put her in a car because it gives her the opportunity to go back to sleep. Then after lunch let her take a small nap (an hour) then wake her up and get her moving again. Don't let her sit in front of the tv or the computer. When supper is over get her ready for bed (about 7:30 p.m.) and she should fall fast asleep at 8 (mine do). I keep them moving all day and then they can have a nap in the middle of the day and then off we go again. Because they are in bed by 8 they are up at 7 a.m. and we are able to drive to YMCA where we swim, play soccer, play in the kindy gym room, walk around the track, etc. We can go to parks where they run with other kids. I am very much a sleep nazi (also tv nazi). I don't let them watch whatever all day long, they are allowed 1 hour a day.

Answer 6

professional in children's development and learning here- nope nothing wrong with her - but something wrong with how she has assumed control of scheduling her life when you as a parent should be in charge- a 4 year old who is determing her own bedtime and how late she sleeps will be the one to determine how late she stays out and who she sleeps with at 13. You must gain parental control now or you are in for great troubles later. PLeaes for all your sakes assume parental contro without losing your tmepre and displying emotion. You must make rules, outline consequences, and follow through without showing any anger or emotion. Make rules, create consequencesand follow through without indicating that it makes you angry.

At 4 she should be PUT to bed at 8-8:30 and required to stay there( no yelling ) just do it and close the door and ignore her yelling screaming etc( wow you may even punish her for acting up by taking away toys privaleges or tv etc ). Then each morning wake her up at a time that works for your household and then establish afternoon nap time of one hour that occurs each day no matter her wishes. This places you in the role of the parent who is supposed to be responsible and has you teaching the child proper behaviour and places her in the role of child who respects authority now and later in her life.

Following this approach towards all behaviours ( you should be sure to consider her needsa wants as well as yours andnot just be a uncosiderate unhearing parent) will help withmany behaviour issues and develop good habits that last a lifetime.

Yes you will have weeks of misery as you adopt this approach on issues and it will be hard to change your own habits and reactions as well as hers since she is 4 and thinks sheis n charge when you should be-but in the long term it will be far better for her and you as a parent.

Best of luck in your challenge to be an adult parent who is in charge of your family and a not an enabler for your childs bad behaviour. It is a difficult task.!!

Answer 7

something is wrong with you letting her stay up til 12am. the next day she does that wake her up at 8am she is about ready to go to school now or at least head start or kindergarten so get her body used to that schedule. maybe even 7am while you are at home. feed her breakfast let her stay til lunch time feed her lunch and put her down for a nap. dont let her stay sleep too long that is why she goes to bed late. then get her up at around 2pm keep her up til dinner then put her down after dinner around 8-9pm. you may want to omit the mid day nap that way she will be so tired in the evening. then give her a bath after dinner and she will be relaxed and fall asleep early for you. kids will run over you in that way if you let them but these are the first 5 you are impression to them these years so get it started now before it is too late. she goes to sleep and wakes up like shes got a job lol

Answer 8

start waking her up no later than 9 let her take a 30 min nap around 12 and keep her up until whatever time you want her to go to bed there is nothing wrong with her she is just being a 4 year old its up to you to stick to it if not then she will continue to go to bed when ever she wants

Answer 9

ok...first a 4 year old shouldn't be going to bed past 8:30. To get them used to going to be earlier, they must go to bed earlier. Just make her do it and she will become used to it. She will fuss about it for the first few times, but she'll get over it. The kids I babysit, they must be in bed by 8:30 (9 on weekends) and they can read before they go to sleep, but that's it. It'll give her something to do and reading will make her sleepy! Good luck!

Oh and two things that will make her sleepy... turkey and warm milk.

Answer 10

Give her a dose of childrens benadryl for three nights in a row around 8 pm. Then she'll develop a better sleeping schedule. She
be ready for bed between 9 and 10 every night. Sounds bad but it works. I have three year old and thats what i was told to do. And it helped!