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Hi,
I remember a time when my son, Zach (now 21), gave us a hard time each night before bed. For one thing, he wanted to stay up with us and his older brother. I thought that was the main reason he hated bedtime. But as I listened to him, I found out he was frightened that someone or something was in his closet and he didn't like being in his bedroom alone at night. After exploring the situation with him, he asked if he could keep the door to his closet open ... a simple solution. After talking with other parents, I learned this was a common fear. Some parents actually took the doors off the closets.
Does you child have difficulty gonig to sleep at night? Let us know how you have worked with this ... it would be so helpful to other parents. Also, if your child is afraid at night, write a post ... perhaps you'll get some helpful hints.
NancyNic
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i hope you get good responces. I am stuggling with this now and my child is 6.
he is not scared, he just doesnt like to go to bed. we start our rountine at 8:30 and he wont fall asleep until 10:00 (use to be 11:00) so were getting a little better....lol
i read him about 3 stories, sing him about 20 songs, rub his back for ever....but he just doesnt want to go to sleep.
we have tried everything. I have had a rountine where i would leave after 1 book, 2 songs, back rub, hug and kiss....but then comes the screaming and stuff.
ive let him play in his room and he calls me when he is ready to go to sleep. that saved me stories, songs and long back rubs, but he wouldnt call me till 10:30 - 11:00 and then the wind down which he would fall asleep at 11:30
it wouldnt be so bad if he got up on his own in the morning, but then i have to pry him out of bed. I tried getting him up real early in the morningf so he could be tired at night, but that didnt work, just a cranky kid.
he doesnt nap, so i dont know what it going on.
My child does have issues with transitions and needs to conrtrol before a transiton but its getting out of hand.
dadfor2
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I am firmly convinced that unless I am standing over my 4 yr old daughter staring at her, she doesn't ever sleep. I stay up late and get up early and she is awake any time I am awake. She doesn't nap, she doesn't fall asleep on long trips in the car (9-10 hour trips)...
I just really don't think she ever sleeps...and now, she has big dark circles under her eyes. She used to get up and wander the house at night, we started gating her in her room. I do think she still gets out of bed at night and wanders her room though....
I'd love some tips to get her to sleep if anyone has any.
Darci
Hi,
As long as you know your son isn't afraid to be along, how about bringing your son to bed, reading him a story and then letting him look through a book or play quietly in bed while listening to some soothing music and saying 'good night'. It sounds like as long as he has your attention he is happy to be awake. If you are having trouble waking him in the morning, he's not getting enough sleep. And maybe if you are not in the room with him, he'll fall asleep earlier.
It takes time to change habits so don't expect his behavior to change 'over night' (pardon the pun!).
NancyNic
Gee Darci ... I'm not sure how to respond to your thread. If you put her to bed and leave the room is she quiet? I guess that's where I would begin ... to see what happens. If she is quiet, let her just rest or go to sleep. Does she have energy throughout the day? Have you talked with your pediatrician?
NancyNic
Parent Forums Moderator