Help for sleepless 5 year old

[Jenny2000]

:confused: Hi everyone. My daughter is 5 years old, and she doesn't have a problem falling or staying asleep- it's getting up before 6 am that's the problem! By the time we leave for school around 9 am, she's ready for a nap. I've tried putting her to bed later hoping she'll naturally sleep later in the morning- it doesn't work!! The only thing staying up late does is turn her into a cranky, tired mess by 2 pm. Since she's up before 6 am, she easily falls asleep by 8 pm, so she gets 10 hrs sleep. But around 4 pm, she's saying she's tired and wants a nap! No one in this house is up before 6 except her, so I put quiet toys, books, etc. in the living room for her to do. (she shares her bedroom w/ her sibling, and I don't need them both up!) So I am trying to find a way to get her to sleep till at least 7 am. Any ideas??? Thanks, I appreciate your help. Jen

[Miriam]

Well, I'm no expert on sleep, but I have been thumbing my way through Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, or whatever the true title is. One thing that struck me is his insistence that sleep begets sleep, that putting a child to sleep earlier may help her sleep later. It's counterintuitive, and I don't know how it will work with a five year old (I've been trying to get my 4-month-old to sleep well), but if it helps, try it. Maybe create an earlier bedtime for a few days running, even if it seems ridiculously early, and see what happens.

Miriam :)