Sometimes I wonder if my little one is getting enough rest. With all the playtime, learning, and fun, it’s hard to know when to stop for sleep. There are nights when he just doesn’t want to go to bed, and the next day he seems cranky and tired. I’m always worried if he’s sleeping enough to feel good the next day. I know how important sleep is for his growth and energy, but finding the balance is tricky. I want him to feel rested and happy, not grumpy or tired.
Ugh, I feel this so much! My 3 year old fights sleep every single night like it’s his job. He acts like bedtime is the end of the world, and then the next day, he’s a little grump monster. You’re not alone in this!
I’ve been there! My daughter used to have the worst time winding down. What worked for us was creating a calming bedtime routine. We do bath, book, then lights out, same time every night. We also added a sound machine, and it worked wonders. She still resists sometimes, but it’s a lot less chaotic now. Maybe something like that could help you too?
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Same here! How do you even know if they’re getting enough sleep? Some days my little guy seems fine on 9 hours and other days he’s a wreck after 11. Is there some magic formula I’m missing?
Hang in there! This phase doesn’t last forever. My oldest was the same at that age, but now at 5, he goes to bed without a fuss most nights. It feels impossible now, but they do eventually figure it out.
My son is 3 now, and we went through this exact thing. It felt like nothing worked. What helped us was pushing bedtime back by 30 min. He was cranky the next day at first, but after a week, he started sleeping better and waking up happier. Sometimes a small adjustment can make a big difference.
It’s tough when they fight sleep and you know how much they need it. Honestly, I’ve had nights where I just gave up and let my son stay up late. The next day was a disaster, but sometimes you’re just too tired to fight it. You’re doing your best, and that’s all that matters.
With my three older kids, bedtime battles were a regular thing at that age. What helped me was reminding myself that overtired kids have a harder time falling asleep. I started focusing on calming activities an hour before bed, puzzles, books, or even cuddles. And remember, cranky mornings happen to all of us! It’ll get better with time.
Thank you all so much! It’s comforting to know I’m not the only one struggling with this. I’m going to try some of these ideas, especially the sound machine and adjusting bedtime. Fingers crossed we find a rhythm soon!
Ugh, mornings with teens are the worst. You’re not alone.
We had the same struggle, and a sleep consultant saved us. They taught us that consistency is key, same bedtime, same routine, every night. Also, limiting screen time before bed helped a lot. It might be worth looking into if the problem keeps going.