I have a five year old who still wakes up frequently at night. She is disoriented and wants me to help her use the bathroom at night. Last night she woke up me up twice and then it was my morning to sleep in which means I was woken up at 6:30 when she got up and then at 7:30 when she came up to ask me something (before my husband could stop her) and then I finally got out of bed at 8:30. So I was in bed from 11:30 to 8:30 but was woken up four times during that time. Going to bed earlier wouldn't have helped because she woke up and came downstairs at almost 11 too. If had gone to bed at 10 that would have been one more wake up for me, not that much more sleep. I am exhausted today. She isn't being bad. She can't help that she wakes up. Hubby can only help to a certain extent. He is probably getting woken up too, just not the one getting out of bed. Does that many hours of sleep count as 9 hours if you are woken up that much? Doesn't feel like it! I am thinking better quality sleep would be more restful as opposed to more hours.
Interrupted sleep is better than none (most times) but still isn't great. I read somewhere that a parent fastened a ribbon across their child's doorway at chest height. When she ran into it, it was a reminder to go back to bed. You could try that with her maybe so then she only comes to get you when you she has to go potty. Just a gentle reminder to get back in bed. Practice during the day and cross your fingers at night!
You bet it counts. Try doing without it, and you'll know it's way better than nothing.
Google "sleep cycles" for a more thorough explanation. It's important to get some deep-sleep cycles under your belt for optimum health, alertness, and performance, but many of us get by on considerably less than optimum sleep, sometimes for years, for any number of reasons.
On your sleep-in mornings, perhaps you could come up with a signal to your daughter that she should go ask Daddy first. Maybe have her help you design a "do not disturb" sign for your bedroom door.
For me, quality of sleep trumps quantity ANY day........though I won't say no to a few extra hours here or there :)
To feel well rested you need REM sleep (rapid eye movement); in other words, deep uninterrupted dream sleep, even if you don't remember dreaming. It's completely understandable that you are exhausted! Maybe explain to your daughter to go to your husband first on certain days.
While as a mom we will take any sleep we can get, your body needs to go the full cycle to be well rested and as Cyndie said you need REM sleep.
What about a baby gate at her door? Along with a monitor if she has to go to the bathroom, she can tell you?
