How is it possible that my 4 year old needs less sleep than I do?!

[RockStarMom]

My daughter has always needed less sleep than typical children her age, but she has recently been sleeping even less and not getting tired until very late. It's nearly midnight here and she's still up. Bedtime takes HOURS, because she seems like she simply isn't tired. She's cheerful and keeps asking to eat/drink/use the bathroom. I end up finally giving up and letting her do whatever while I regroup. I get so exhausted and fed up with her that I turn into a parent that I don't want to be. I'm a single mom and a full time student, and I've always done my homework after she goes to bed. But now that she goes to bed so late, I'm up half the night doing homework, and I'm flipping exhausted. I missed school today because I was so exhausted after last night. Has anyone dealt with this?

[newmum35]

I'm not sure I can help cause mine will be 2 soon. But I've found a few things help him sleep faster. Going outside to get fresh air for a while (especially if being physically active... well thats only for naptime, we don't do that at night) and not eating too close to bedtime (he does nurse before bed, but I meant other food) If he eats a "meal" he is up for at least 1 1/2 or 2 more hrs. So I limit his bedtime snack to something small or light, and I try to give it to him 1 1/2 or 2 hrs before bed. Have no idea if this will work with a 4 yr old. Having a "bedtime routine" might help you if you don't already have one. Have a good book about that, I forget what its called at the moment sorry.

Oh another thing that helps, when he says he wants to play moments before bed, I say ok you can play mama's going to go in the other room. And I do lol He plays for a few minutes and when he realizes he has to play by himself he calls me back in "sleep" he calls out lol At first I did let him play longer, half hr or as long as he wanted, but eventually he realized if he wanted to play at night it was by himself. I wasn't being part of the fun. So you could try this to see if it worked maybe. Go do your homework and let her play by herself if she's truly not tired. When she gets tired she can call you in to "tuck her in" or do whatever you do.

If she's no longer nursing, do you think a half glass of milk right before bed might help? Its been years since i read this but isn't it supposed to have an amino acid in it that helps one get sleepy? (turkey was also supposed to lol)

[RockStarMom]

Thanks newmum. It's now 2:30 AM and she's STILL up. And I'm exhausted and haven't started my homework...I'll be up all night now. Ugh.
I'm going to try to have her get more exercise during the day and see if that helps. And she's been playing quietly by herself these last few hours...I feel so guilty but maybe the only solution is her doing that while I work on homework.
This is just insanity that she isn't tired. She's sick, but for some reason doesn't need more sleep, and she hardly slept last night and hardly napped today. I don't get it.