My Daughter Is Not Getting Enough Sleep.

I am a morning person, and so is my younger daughter. Even as a teen I'd get up before the crack of dawn -- 4:30, 5am, feeling ready to go. I love the mornings. My older daughter hates the mornings. The younger one is like me. But yes, that means we need earlier bedtimes. So be it. That's just the way we are.

But as far as not falling asleep easily, that's tougher. We had rituals with warm baths, story time, back rub, prayer, etc. The younger one, when she had trouble sleeping, liked soft classical music, but could not sleep DURING it because she loved it so much, but it emptied her head and relaxed her, and she fell asleep after.

Some kids do better with "white noise" and some hate it.

Plenty of active play during the day can also help kids fall asleep. No sugary foods... you know the drill - stuff you are probably doing right anyway.

Here is an article, maybe you can get some tips that will work for your little one. http://itsnotmental.blogspot.com/2009/01/sleep-timing-of-...

Lastly, consider how she acts during the day. Is she OK? Cranky & whiny? Let that help guide you.

shes fine kids needs change as they get older just make sure shes getting a nap

L.,
I'm a mother of four so I have some experience in this!! Sleeping does vary to some degree so don't worry about her being sleep deprived! One important thing you don't mention is naps....what time does she nap?? My kids slept shorter hours at night when they were napping. Also, make sure the naps aren't too long and not after 3:00 if you want her to go to bed by 8:00. My two year old goes to bed at 9:30(I know-too late!!) and he's up at 8:00(sometimes earlier).

She'll be fine!

N.

honestly even though they need many hours of sleep do not expect them to sleep all those hours in the same stretch of time. It is not true the earlier you put them to bed the later they sleep. My kids sleep from around 10pm to 6am ..She will let you know if she is not getting enough sleepy by being cranky and such

L.,

It sounds like your daughter is adjusting to her new home environment. Depending on your child, will depend how long it takes her for the new place to feel like home.

The best thing you can do is pay attention to the sleepy warning signs. This is when she should go to bed. Also, talk to her about the new place. Children this age can not express their feelings, but they understand everything you say to them. Make it feel like home to her. Start a nightly ritual that can be between the two of you. Imaginative Play chasing rabbits and putting them to bed. You know her best, so pick something she loves and do it before bedtime. As long as it is a low key activity...If she wakes up in the middle of the night, get her a snack. She might be really hungry when waking up from sleeping all night. We do this with our son and it gives us another hour in the mornings.

My daughter used to wake up 10 times a night when she was 18 months old. Turned out it was food allergies. I would consider "purifying" her diet a bit and see what happens :)
Some common allergens are chocolate, additives, corn, wheat and dairy.

L.,
Most likely just a phase she is going through,...all of my boys (9,7,3) have had phases where they sleep alot and sleep a little less at nite. My theory was always and still is...let them sleep when they will if they are over tired. If that means a 4 or 5 hour window of naps through out the day, okay. It seems counterproductive, but in many cases sleep brings on more sleep. I know in my boys if the get overtired they are harder to settle down and it takes a while to get them back into their normal pattern of sleep. So unless you have a rigid schedule go with the flow and let her sleep as much as she can to catch up and you will be able to work her back into better hours of awake.

Good Luck!
T.

The darker the room is, will help a lot. If you don't have room darkening shades, go to a Lowe's or home depot and get them, this will help. Make sure her tummy is full when you put her in, and she has a thick diaper on. If she naps, give her about 4 hrs after waking, to go to sleep again. Make sure the evening is happy and calm. And make sure after naptime, she has been outside and run around plenty. I think their sleep pattern changes throughout their young years till about 4, then they seem to establish a pattern. Some of us need more sleep and some need less, and so it goes for baby.

Well, first thing you need to now is that every child is different..and yours sleeping from 8 pm until 9 am is VERY different! I think it may just be a coincidence with your aunt. At 20 months old your youngen wants to start HER DAY! Most kids this age, younger and older do not sleep this late. Mine was always up at the crack of dawn with no nap during the day and waiting until 9:30pm to fall asleep the night before. This is normal, so syke yourself up and get busy!
Our daughter is 5 this month. We have always folowed the same pattern at night. Bath 6:30-7pm, 7-7:30 TV time, 7:30-8pm resd book in bed. At 8 pm she is on her own. If she chooses to "read books", play with stuffed animals, etc..she must do it with the lights off (except nightlight), quietly and NOT get outta bed. She gets one chance to "call us back there" and after that next time NL goes off, 3rd time..time out. She's usualy asleep by 9-9:15 pm.
We just had to face the fact that she doesn't require as much sleep as other kids do or as much as WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OURSELVES. That's probably your main issue, not so much that she needs more sleep.

Hi L.,
I think that even 8 is too late. Try moving it back even further... say to about 7 pm. It's possible that she is overtired by 8 pm, which makes it hard for her to get to sleep. Also, you didn't mention nap time, but if she is up early, you may want to put her down for a nap earlier in the day, say late morning or very early afternoon. Hopefully, with the earlier nap and bedtime, she will get back on schedule.
Good luck!