Everything is going wrong. He goes to sleep very late and then doesn’t want to wake up for school. He cries, he gets angry, and honestly, I feel the same way. We had worked so hard on his bedtime routine, and now it’s like his internal clock is completely broken. I’ve tried everything I can think of—no screens before bed, a calm environment, sticking to the same schedule—but nothing works. I’m exhausted, and I feel like I’m failing him. I need help now.
Same here! It’s like the holidays totally reset their clocks. Hang in there!
Omg, this sounds exactly like what we’re going through with our 9yo. I swear the holidays are the worst for bedtime routines—it’s like all the progress just disappears. We tried easing back into the school schedule by moving bedtime earlier in 15-minute chunks, but it was such a battle. It’s tough because they’re so overtired, but they don’t seem sleepy at all when it’s actually bedtime. I wish I had more advice, but just know you’re not alone.
Ugh, I feel this so much. My 7yo was always a great sleeper, and then boom, holidays hit, and it’s like we’re starting from scratch. We’ve had mornings where he’s just sobbing because he’s so tired but doesn’t want to get up, and I’m sitting there on the edge of tears too. Have you tried a wake-up light? It helped a little for us, but honestly, we’re still in the trenches over here. Curious to see what others suggest!
Oh, I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Sleep issues are absolutely draining, both for kids and parents. My kiddo went through a similar phase a while back, and it felt like I was running on empty every day. I didn’t have the energy to deal with anything else because it was just an endless cycle of bad nights and rough mornings. I don’t have a perfect solution, but I just want to say you’re not failing him. Sleep regressions are hard, especially when they happen at this age and disrupt the whole family’s rhythm. You’re doing your best, and that’s what matters.
We went through this exact thing with my now-10yo, and it was rough. What ended up working for us was a super strict bedtime routine with no flexibility for a couple of weeks. I’m talking dinner, bath, story, and lights out at the same time every single night, no exceptions, even on weekends. I also started waking him up at the same time every day, even if he didn’t sleep well. It was hard at first (lots of whining and tired mornings), but it eventually reset his body clock. We also made sure he got plenty of sunlight during the day and cut out sugar after 4 PM. It might not work for everyone, but it saved us!
We’re dealing with this too. How late is he staying up? Ours is suddenly fighting bedtime until 11 PM, and then it’s a nightmare getting him up for school. I’m wondering if there’s something we’re all missing, like some secret trick no one’s told us about?
I’ve been there, trust me. My youngest is 14 now, but when he was 8, we had a terrible time with sleep after vacations or breaks. One thing I learned is that consistency really is key, even when it feels impossible. We also started having a “wind-down hour” before bed with no screens and quiet activities like puzzles or reading. It wasn’t perfect, but over time it made a huge difference. And remember, this phase won’t last forever. It feels all-consuming now, but you’ll get through it. You’re a great mom, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.