Hellobee Boards

@knittylady: what is your routine leading up to stories?

@knittylady: I am wondering if he needs a longer time to wind down. My DD is only 2 but she needs a prolonged wind down in order to be able to fall asleep easily.

We do almost the same routine that you have except that after brushing teeth we turn off the lights and rock her for a couple minutes. We also dim her bedroom lights when we are getting her ready for bed and reading books as a signal that it is time to settle down.

Instead of stories in bed could you just sign some quiet songs with the lights out? Maybe some back rubs, anything to help him calm his body.

Does he get lots of outdoor time and physical activity? My kids always fall asleep earlier / faster when they've spent a good amount of time tearing around outside in the late afternoon.

a good run around might help, maybe if it's not outside and pre dinner dance party that really gets all the wiggles out? I was the kind of kid who needed to really use my body to calm down at night. I am still like that.

We tried changing various things in their routines, essential oils, some "natural" sleep products for kids, tried earlier bedtimes, later bedtimes, and finally talked to our pedi about it. It was taking them 2-3 plus hours to go to sleep. Initially, she had us try it for 4-6 weeks to try to reset their sleep cycles. It was amazing how well it worked as far as them actually getting sleepy, which literally NEVER happened otherwise. After that period of time, we took them off to see if it helped, and they went right back to their precious inability to wind down. Now they take it every night, with our pedis blessing. I hate to do that, but in the end, I feel like it's better for them to take melatonin (in a very small dose and without resisting ifnthey wake up later at night), then to be chronically overtired alllll the time.

Good luck!

@Mrs. Blue: can I ask what dose you use for their weight? My 2.5 is big at 38lbs and it's not really effecting him.

@Mrs. Blue: thanks. Ours is just hit or miss. Honestly usually around the full moon.

@Canoli: We do lavender + peppermint + lemon every night, and while I don't think it helps a ton with sleep, I do think it really helps with seasonal allergies.

It sounds like he is overtired. I would try earlier bed time -- even if ty doesn't fall asleep right away, he is much more calm and go with the flow if we start bed time earlier. He's a year older than your son and we aim to have him sleeping at 815/830 and he sleeps until 7 or 730. We head up for bath at 7.

I would say we use melatonin about half the time with my 4 year old, and have been using it that way for the past 6 months.

We have no screen time for at least 3 hours before bed, dinner at 5:30, bath around 6, jammies and stories between 6:30-7, and then bed between 7-7:30. No nap, and he is incredibly overtired by 6:45ish. My husband lays with him until he falls asleep because he has a rough time on his own, but he is out in 5 minutes (at most) if we give melatonin during bath time. I will do the same with my 2 year old and newborn once they hit 3 year old if they have similar sleep issues, because the benefits in terms of a well-rested kiddo are immeasurable.

We tried essential oil, cut dairy, had more outdoor time, etc before trying it. Some kids just have trouble with sleep and need that help, I think. I'm a huge fan of melatonin now.