Hello!

I know this probably sounds normal for kids, but it’s not!

My daughter has never been a good sleeper, she is soooo energetic. I’ve tried everything from playing all day, naps and no naps. Even a 5km hike… She still didn’t go to sleep until 4am and woke at 6am.

I feel so tired, absolutely exhausted. last night, she fell asleep at 8pm, I was in shock and I thought I’d actually get some sleep. 9pm, 1 hour later. She was awake.. She didn’t sleep again until 5am! waking at 9am.
The night before she didn’t sleep at all until 7am and woke at 10am.

I’m going out of my mind, I don’t know what to do.
I don’t want to have to medicate her as i’ve seen kids on meds and don’t want to see my little girl zombiefied :(


Want more real mum questions sent to you?

You'll need to check this email to complete your signup.
  • How exhausting!! Definitely recommend seeing a GP, maybe a paediatrician even to give you some ideas on how to work it out with your daughter… Best of luck!! Hope you get a decent sleep soon!!!!!!


  • I hope you got some answers and your daughter has settled down now. It doesn’t sound normal to me. My 4yo goes to bed at 7:30pm and wakes at 7am. Children her age need 10-12hrs sleep a night.


  • my 16 month old is the same, the doctor recommended a product called be calm, they are tissue salts and help


  • Have you been to a naturopath? I would try magnesium as a starter but only after you’ve had a consult with a naturopath and maybe had all her other minerals checked. The poor little girl, and you! sleep deprivation is a serious condition that needs to be fixed asap. good luck.


  • Aw I’m so sorry, that would be absolutely exhausting. Maybe have a chat to your local gp


  • I read all this i hope you update us all later, good luck and god bless


  • My son very energetic too but he still can sleep well all night.


  • Beksmum.. She sleeps with me already :( lol

    I will try the ‘wind down time’ again, thank you :)
    She actually went to sleep early tonight. Though she was awake at 6:30am and at pre school today. She had a bath, had dinner then we laid in bed and she watched Frozen on the Ipod.. Next thing I knew, i woke up almost an hour later and she was sound asleep.
    She has only woken once tonight but went straight back to sleep :)

    Thanks ladies. You all have some great advice and I truly appreciate it :)


  • I know this isn’t the greatest answer, but I slept with her in her bed, I only had to do it for a week and now she will go to sleep at bedtime and sleep through the night, just routine.


  • have you thought about going to a sleep clinic?


  • It’s sounds like you have to have wind down time. Meaning warm dark room low light at least one hour before bedtime, quiet reading , now noise etc, which means no excitement. Try this for a week so and see what happens.


  • Thanks for all your helpful answers!

    We are waiting on seeing a specialist at the hospital. As they keep saying that it could be Aspergers related.

    I would LOVE to get some time to myself but sadly, I live with my disabled Mum (I’m her carer) and there is no Pop around to help. I just have to be strong and continue to try.
    I’ve tried Essential Oils also.. I thought they were working but it seemed that just helped on the days she was really tired.

    It seems that she gets tired early, around dinner time. but fights the urge to sleep and in turn, becomes over tired and thats when the insomnia part comes into it :/

    I will definitely try that routine.. though she will argue about the 2 books! lol

    Thank you all so much again!! xxx


  • I found this trick for my 4 year old who had the same problem and woke us up from bed one night with fire burning in my visitors room, he had been wondering around while everybody was in bed and got the matches. I got some CDs of Elmo, Robin Wood, Sound of Music and many more. When he lies to watch them in his bed, before he knows it, he is already asleep. I kept on searching for these kids very entertaining movies, and finally, his system calmed down and now he goes to bed normally, as every other person or even before.


  • My 3 year old daughter is the same.. I have found on the nights where I have a very strict wind down routine she sleeps better.
    This means bath, and dinner a done at least 1 hour before bed, the say 7.30pm, we go Into her room, read a max of 2 books (no negotiations) then I stay with her till she is asleep. I find calming her body and mind down really helps.


  • I would be speaking to a GP and just see what they recommend


Post your reply
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your answer and join MoM:

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join