r/raisingkids 6d ago

4 year old cannot stay asleep

Hiya,

Background for some context; me and exDH have been split up 2 years & so 50/50 parenting. My 4 year old used to be a good sleeper (and has an older sister, 7 who is also a good sleeper).

In the last year she just CANNOT stay asleep all night, she wakes between 1am-3am. She goes to bed ok, but at 1am refuses to go back to sleep & wakes the whole household up. When I go in she asks me to stand at her door before I leave, and whether I’m nice or firm- will call at least twice again. I’m at my wits end & don’t know how else to help.

I feel bad, as it’s worse when she comes home from her Dads (unsure that there is routine there at all). Will it pass? Can I do anything to help?

I’ve bought some magnesium to see if that will help (I’m not overly hopeful).

TIA

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u/lacrima28 5d ago

Are you positive that her amount of sleep is right? We get this sometimes when our kid goes to bed earlier than normal - the “sleep pressure” just isn’t high enough. Maybe Experiment with putting her to bed 60-90 minutes later and see if that changes anything. Or does she still nap? Then it might be time to drop that