My 2 Year Old Is a Night Hawk!

You are probably OK for now, but it will definately be difficult once school starts. I've been using the book "Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child". It gives a lot of info on why getting plenty of sleep is important for cognitive development and good behavior. It also helps by describing what tired cues are (which can be counter intuitive, like being wired). Then it goes through stratagies for helping institute good sleep habits for different age groups.
Good luck!

Hi K.,

I wouldn't say you screwed up at all. This schedule obviously works for your family for now so why change it? When the time comes for her to go to school, it may be difficult at first for her wake up so early but like anyone else, she'll adjust.

I'd say, don't sweat it!

Hi K.,

Don't worry that you have screwed up your child, you sound like a great parent.

My older son was like this...he wouldn't go to bed until 11:30--and no daily nap! My husband and I would be passed out from exhaustion on the couches, and he would be running around waking us up. We started putting him on a strict nap/bedtime schedule so we could get some rest. Since he never was a napper, it was hard the first few days--took me an hour of putting him back in bed just to get him to take his first scheduled nap, and boy did he scream--but after about three days he settled down. They say it takes your internal body clock three days to reset itself, so this makes sense. Sometimes now he has a little trouble with nap/bedtime, but for the most part he has adjusted to this schedule.

Now, my eleven-year-old is a different story. She takes forever to get up in the morning, and is frequently late to school, no matter what time she goes to bed in the evening. She must be like her father, who is the same way. I guess some kids (and adults) just function on a different daily schedule. You could try adjusting your daughter's nap/bedtime schedule (and stick to it!), but you never know: she may have trouble with mornings forever. Don't let it get you down, though, because eventually she will be old enough to choose which hours she chooses to work and sleep each day.

Good Luck!

M.

My older son would go to bed late also and sleep in with me since I've always been a night hawk myself! We just slowly started putting him to bed a little earlier and at first, he was exhausted from school but it didn't take long for him to adjust. He's now 20 and would you believe he works the night shift and sleeps all day? Must be a family trait! She sounds perfect and the schedule seems to fit all of you so why mess with it?!

I had the same situation with my oldest daughter and shes 21 and still a night hawk! When I was married to her dad I worked second and he worked third so she loved sleeping in and spending time with mom and dad. as she gets older you will have to change her schedule to normal peoples lol but you to will probably change your schedule around also, It will all work out in the end enjoy your precious one they grow up fast!! good luck!