Sleeping - 3 Year Old Son

When the time change happened, our son, who usually woke between 5-5:30 started waking up at 4-4:30...way too early! We bought a little lamp with a 15w bulb, and plugged it into a timer. Then we told Griffin that we wouldn't come in until the light was on. The first morning we set it for 4:30, and have been pushing it back in 15 minute increments every week or so. Now he's usually sleeping until about 6:00 (when the light comes on), and if he wakes up earlier he entertains himself in his crib until the light comes on. Then it's "Mommy! Daddy! Time get up! Light on!" We're really pleased with how well it worked, but you have to be strong and DO NOT go in until the light comes on, or he won't get the idea.

I am actually dealing with a similar issue, except my son only half wakes up at about 4, and is this way until 8-8:30 AM! He is 2 3/4 and still nursing, so that means he wants "nummies" every half hour or hour in this time, which means even less sleep for me. I have started cutting out his nap whenever possible...keeping him busy with outings to indoor/outdoor parks, running errands, walking our dog, etc. Then he comes home and unwinds with his toys while I make dinner. On these glorious days he is in bed by no later than 8:30, and sleeps until about 7 quite steadily (although he, too, has never been what one would call a solid sleeper!). Problem is that when we are home for most the day, he wants to nap, and if I try and with hold it at home, he ends up sleeping from 5-7 and being up until 11 or midnight. I am not giving very much advice here, but trying to share my experience in hopes we could maybe learn from one another-or at least feel the empathetic love of parents going through similar difficulties!

My main point is that the nap removal can help, but you would have to do so in a consistent manner if your son is as much like mine as he sounds in his sleep habits....and even then he might still wake up. My mom says I was the same way, adn that by the end of my 3rd year I was sleeping all night peacefully...so maybe it soon will be true for our children?
I am asking out loud that this will happen!! Best of luck to you as well!

Hi K.,

Yes, first start cutting back on his nap time. Don't nix it altogether, that'd be too extreme.

I wonder if there isn't another solution here. I think your son may either be sleeping too hot or too cold. My son is 4 and wears nothing to bed except a diaper and has flannel sheets. THAT has seemed to work best. He is a sweaty critter! Check on your son around midnight and see if he feels cold or if his hair is wet from sweat.

I would push his bedtime back 30 minutes as well. Lastly, I would let him know that if he is going to get up at 4am, that he needs to stay in his room until it is time for all of us to get up. That may sound unkind, but on the contrary, it introduces him to the mind over matter concept.

Sleep is so precious to us parents. I want you to know that it is okay and perfectly normal to establish these boundaries. Boundaries with children not only enable them in their own decision-making process, but boost confidence as well.

Hope this helps!

Hi K.,

I also have the pleasure of raising a non-sleeper, and my son just turned three. Every child is different, but I would suggest keeping the nap (preferably in the mid-day timeframe) and trying to bump up his bed time to 8PM or sooner. It seems counter-intuitive, but they sleep longer/better with more sleep. It will take a steady routine with an earlier bedtime for this to happen. Also - I figured out that the newspaper was being delivered at the time my son would typically wake up...smashing on our driveway with a loud thud. You might also want to see if there are extraneous factors interfering with his sleep and see if you can remedy those. I would highly recommend the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth. I wish I had read it earlier....good luck to you!

This is the age that I had to stop naps with my son. If he took a nap he'd be awake until 11-12pm and then up by 7-8am. It sounds like you're in a similar situation. He might be cranky for a couple of days, but he'll adjust quickly. :)