Sleep training a 3yr old

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 September 2011 - 14:40

Jules - I cannot stress enough to NOT lock him in his room at night. In the event of a fire, you would fumble to unlock the door and maybe not succeed before you had to abandon the flat. Honestly, part of my (real) job is fire evacuation planning and I can tell you straight off that studies have shown that people who are panicked and disorientated due to the sudden wake-up/ smoke/ heat/ adrenaline will act impulsively like trying to pull open a door they know to have to push, trying to smash a door they know to be locked or to forget where they put their keys. It's "small" things like that the could mean life or death.

RATE IT

kiwispiers15400

2782

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 September 2011 - 13:24

If you think he is tired and you can't fix the early wake-up by completely blacking out the room, your best option is an earlier bedtime, as in BEFORE 6pm so that at least he gets enough sleep.

RATE IT

JulesLC

722

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 September 2011 - 12:41

Moonkitty, your son sounds the same as mine! The only difference is that I genuinely think he is tired during the day waking so early, but he doesnt want to sleep either in the day...he is asleep by 7.15.....thinking of adopting your strategy!

RATE IT

moonkitty40510

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 September 2011 - 10:30

My son is exactly the same. He is a twin and his brother sleeps through till 6.30/7 - my early riser can wake anywhere between 5 and 6.30 - usually before 6. He is asleep before 7.30pm. He has the clock - he knows what's what. We have just come to accept that he is an early riser or does not need as much sleep as his brother and sister. We have realised it is nothing we are doing to make him wake early - it is just the way he is. He is 3 yrs 9 months and he now goes downstairs by himself and watches something on the ipad at a very low volume. I am usually awake and know he is there and what he is doing but at least I don't have to get up! I know it wont last forever and make sure I go to be early!

RATE IT

JulesLC

722

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 September 2011 - 10:20

thanks ladies. early is 5am this morning, in my book anything after 6am is acceptable as we all know little people wake up early! his clock is set to trun to sunshine at 6am....HAK, we also say to him when it's still dark then it's still sleep time. we do have a stair gate which is another option, it will just be a noisier one as he will scream the house down (tried it a couple of times a few months ago but DH in particular counldnt take it!!)!! but may be nicer than locking him in which I am not sure I can bring myself to do.... KathyT, up until a few months ago, he was sleeping 12 hrs no problem...we have adopted the same strategy as you in that we try and go with the flow, but honestly its wearing us down! If I wasnt working it would be less of an issue, but I have to financially, and my job is client facing, so not great if you're knackered!!!

RATE IT

Hello.Again.Kitty

1861

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 September 2011 - 09:34

don't lock the door (not safe in the event of fire because people tend to panic, even if they know where the keys are and know exactly what to do)... but a stair gate is always handy! How early is early anyway? my two will wake any time from 6h30 onwards and our thing is if it's dark outside, it's still night time... which comes back to bite me when we're in the UK and sunrise is at 4h30 and sunset at 22h30! I've also found that since when they're awake, they won't go back to sleep, it's about coping... so if they get up really early, I get their breakfast, set it on the coffee table, turn the telly on and go back to bed... that keeps them occupied for about an hour. We're in an apartment though, so I can still hear the screams, should they happen. In the UK, where we have a house, I do the same, but stay with them in the lounge (generally dozing on the sofa!)

RATE IT

Kathyt47392

654

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 September 2011 - 09:32

I have two boys. One slept thru from8 months (8 now) and the other who is 3 and half has slept in his bed all night about a dozen times. We have tried all the techniques (apart from locking is door which I suspect may be more traumatic than helpful) and nothing works. There is no rhyme nor reason why he comes into our room every night. After tearing my hair out for a long time, I and DH have now learnt to go with his flow and accept that he will not be coming into our bed every night as a teenager (or at 5 years old either hopefully). Maybe try a sticker chart with a gift incentive?

RATE IT

JulesLC

722

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 27 September 2011 - 09:21

Our once great sleeper is now up super early, which leaves us all exhausted including him! DH and I work full time, he is at nursery 5 days a week with his little brother, so we all need to sleep well at night! this has been going on for a few months now....he has a sleep clock ie stars vs sunshine, understands eprfectly what is expected of him, ie to stay quietly in his room until the sunshine comes on and its time to wake up, but he just doesnt do it!!! have tried returning him multiple times with no attention, but still no luck. Am now thinking last resort is to lock his door and only open it when it's time. Bit like cry it out when they are younger and still in a cot! Anyone tried this?? I think we are going to need nerves of steel to do it! Any thoughts welcome. thanks

RATE IT