My 3 year old, almost 4 year old daughter will not go to sleep at night! Please help!!!?

Question

I put her to bed at the same time every night, at 8:30 just like I did with my other children, but she will not go to sleep. She finally goes down between 11 and 1 am usually and is back up at 7. She used to be such a good sleeper but is not now. I don't understand! She comes out of her room every 10-15 minutes asking for water, need to pee, hungry, hugs, kisses, ect ect. If she has to pee or it's late and I think she is truely hungry I don't want to let her do without b/c I'm afraid it's mean plus I don't want her to wet the bed. I can't imagine sending her to bed if she is truely hungry b/c I love her and she cries like she is really in distress. I however cannot cope any longer and am at my wits end with this. Any tips on how I can get her to stay in her bed?

Answer 1

She's manipulating, she's not needing anything at night. Put a potty chair in her room and a sippy of water. She gets one hug and one kiss before you leave for the night. If she comes out, you don't say anything to her, turn her around, and march her back to her bed. Is there a night light in her room? If so, take it out. It will mess with her sleep cycle. Maybe try an 8 pm bedtime instead of 8:30--read a book or two, go potty one last time, and go to bed. End of discussion. When she cries, she's not truly hungry if she's eaten her dinner--she's using it to stall. She cries like she's in distress because she knows how to push your buttons. She's a girl (they manipulate more than boys do) and girls are sneakier than boys at that age. She's learned that by telling you she needs something, by whining, or by crying she gets your attention. Start a chart where she gets a sticker if she doesn't come out. If she gets so many stickers, she gets to do something special. I know of some people who put a gate at the door so their 4 year old can't wander around the house at night. If there's a real issue, they'll hear her from down the hall, and the potty's already in the room, so there's no excuse for her to come out. Again, she's not truly hungry--it's not safe to eat in bed, it's not healthy to eat late at night (anything past 7 or 7:30 is late for her--her body needs time to digest when awake), and she'll need to brush her teeth AGAIN. She needs a stable routine and she needs to know that her behavior is unacceptable. Warn her that a change will be happening, starting at breakfast one morning and remind her throughout the day that she's not allowed to come out of her room at night. Sounds to me like she's running the show at your house. It's time to take some action!

Answer 2

she just may be a light sleeper and doesnt need much sleep. shes getting older and maybe shes just growing.

as for foods, u should set out a schedule.

maybe breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack, bedtime snack.

try cutting out sugars like juice, soda, cookies, cakes and stuff like that. that may help the issue.

Answer 3

Did someone seriously suggest drugging this child???

That person should be put to sleep....

You need to re-establish a routine.  Maybe even do some physical activity to wear her out a little before bed time.  OR - make her bedtime a little later.  My kids used to go to bed at 7 and now has eventually moved to 9.  PLUS - it's summer time.  It stays light longer.  Maybe that's s******g her up, too.

Just stick to your guns.  Don't give into her silly reasons to keep getting out of bed.

Answer 4

Er... too much sugar?

Answer 5

My parents always told me about the boogeyman hiding in the closet, scared the h**l out of me. I wouldn't recommend it, though it did keep me in bed.

Answer 6

well if she is always saying it it is just because she knows it is a way to get out of bed she is not for real but if you want to make sure before she goes to bed tell her to go to the bathroom before she lies down and at the side of her bed put a snack and a sippy cup full of water then give her lots of kisses and hugs before you leave her room and tell her that she is not alowed to leave the room (and she wont have to go to the bathroom for real if she just went so dont worry about her peeing the bed. also if you dont allready than you should read to her to help her get sleepy  or give her a portable dvd player.

to help with her getting sleepy than mabey you should try to tire her out during the day for example have her run out side for a long time with you or her siblings

hope this helps :) good luck!!!

Answer 7

Beat her @ss. If that doesnt work then you should knock her @ss out.

Answer 8

what i know is that kids should have a nap during the day. maybe you should stay with her until she gets to sleep deeply. maybe she's scared or something is troubling her mind so that's why she looks for attention or assistance. guide her on what tv shows/cartoons she watches, dont let anyone tease her about ghost stories. just continue to be patient, know her thoughts/feelings/sees, listen & understand her carefully. every child is unique.

Answer 9

play heavy and hard about a couple of hours before bed then watch a movie

Answer 10

Give her notice of bedtime.  Say 15 minutes beforehand, so she is prepared, then put her to bed when you say you are going to.  Make sure everything in the house is quiet and calm so she feels like it is the end of the day properly.  Read her a story for ten to fifteen minutes.  Then leave.

If she gets up don't have a discussion with her about it, she's just trying to stall you and if she's had her supper she is not hungry.  Just pick her up and put her back in the bed and tell her its time to sleep.  If she gets up again do the same thing.  Don't vary the routine or your tone of voice.  Just pick her up and put her back in the bed.  She may have a little cry or a tantrum but you have to just leave her.  She'll understand the routine soon enough and will stop trying. x

Answer 11

Well have you gone to the doctor, maybe there is something wrong in her life or her mind

Answer 12

part of it is that she knows how to pull your chain. make sure she drinks, eats and goes potty before bedtime then tell her she has to stay in her room till morning with no excuses to get out. also is she drinking pop or other sugary liquids? if so stop that as she may be drinking to much of it giving her a sugar high.

Answer 13

Make her pee, have a drink of water, EVERYTHING, before she goes to bed. Tell her, when its bedtime, she stays in her room. Dont let her get up to get a drink of water. She is doing all of this for attention, and because she can. Just leave her in her room overnight without interuption.

Answer 14

Keep her up for the entire night and the next day...then she will sleep at 8:30 the following night.

Answer 15

give her warm milk that will make her sleepy

If that doesn't work LOCK HER IN HER ROOM

naw im just jokin

but really try warm milk

Answer 16

ask her if she needs anything before she goes to sleep. and you stay in her room with her before she sleeps.

Answer 17

maybe shes not doing enough during the day wich makes her less tired for the night. try playing games with her..maybe put a boring movie on and then she'll fall asleep.

and if you give her water, dont give her alot just incase she does wet the bed.

Answer 18

Give her a snack before bedtime.

Give her Melatonin crushed in applesauce 1/2-1 hr. before bedtime.

I have to give it to my son.  It's found in the herb section of your pharmacy, all natural, totally safe.  My son was staying up all night and not falling asleep until the next day around 2 in the afternoon, it was killing us.  He'd be without hardly any sleep for days and he'd still be awake.  He is autistic, but the melatonin was the only thing that gave us our life back.  He seems much happier, does better at preschool and everything.

Answer 19

*Make a rewards system

*Tire her out in the day

*Watch a movie with her before (kids tend to get tired when watching movies)

*Read 2-3 books before bed

*Eat popcorn while watching the movie (she just ate so  you cant feel bad for her)

*Make her go to the bathroom before you lay her down

*Put a cup or a water bottle by her bed so if she is thirsty she wont get up

*Give her lots of hugs and kisses before you lay her down

*Sit in her room for about 15-30 minutes then say "I have to go check on something and i will be right back"  and then check on her ever 5-10 minutes

*Warm milk or Oatmeal will make her tierd

Try some of those and if they don't work resort to the doctors, she might have Insomnia

Help Me Out Please!

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Answer 20

my little sisteer is 3. if she is rambunctious do alot of activities with her to ware her out. if this doesnt work try putting on a movie or turning off all the lights in the house and be quiet so she feels the energy calm down and will get sleepy. My little sister is like this too just dont get frustrated or mad that will only make her want to stay up more. also try bribing her with a special present in the morning if she goes to bed, it could be something she likes to eat or do that is quick and wont mess up your schedual.

Answer 21

consistency-same message every night 'its time for bed now, good night bla bla' might take a while but eventually doing it consistent it will work

Answer 22

Go to Walmart. There are vitamins called Melatonin's, My nefew was having trouble sleeping and we got him some The doctor is the one whom told us about these......It's 100% Natural and they just help regulate healthy sleeping patterns. Give them to her right after dinner. This worked really well for us. I could possibly be good for your daughter too.

Answer 23

Stay in the room with her until she is asleep. She may just be lonely at night.

Answer 24

Some strong rope!!!

Answer 25

ambien or valium :P