[MammaP]

Hi all,

I am after some suggestions to help getting DD5 to go to sleep better.

She has never been a great sleeper, was always hard to get to bed and still is.

We have a very regular bedtime routine and have had for years. We have dinner at 6pm, immediately followed by a bath, then books in bed.

We leave the lamp on for her and tell her she can read to herself for a short while then it is time to sleep.

She has just starting FYOS and is tired. She is a bit stoppy, dark circles under her eyes etc, cries easily when she would normally cope etc.

She is loving school.

Our problem is she just doesn't go to sleep when we leave her. She is still awake now, laying in her bed talking to herself. Some nights she will read over 20 books to herself, or just talk to her teddy. Other nights she will " use the "just need a drink, just need a wee " tactic but mostly is just in her room awake.

She wakes on her own accord each morning between 630 and 7am.
Any suggestions to help would be greatly appreciated.

[daruma]

Hi. My son is also 5 and in his FYOS. He has always had difficulty with sleep. I just recently started using a homeopathic liquid called Children's Sleep by Brauer. I got it at the chemist. It is something to calm the nervous system and it helps him settle down. We also got a children's meditation CD by Christiane Kerr. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bedtime-Meditation...m/dp/1901923908
It is really lovely to listen to and he tries to do what the CD asks. These two things plus the tiredness from school seem to have him asleep much sooner than he would have before.

I also try to give him dinner at 5pm or 5:30 so he is not trying to digest food when he lays down. That may not be possible for you and is not for me on the days I work.

Anyway, hope this helps and she can settle soon.

[EBeditor]

I have a child of a similar age who wakes at 6.30 too.

he always carried on at bedtime until we implemented 'lights out' after 2 books which we read with him. Lights out is usually between 7.15 and 7.30.

So I would just foiurm up the routine, make sure she had gone to the bathroom after her bath, give her a drink bottle in her room, books and then lights out.

We are amazed that DS is now settling to sleep in around 10 minutes, when he used to be a nightmare!

[MammaP]

Thanks guys,

Not sure about lights out as she is afraid of the dark. I tried just getting a night light to put next to her bed and she was really anxious and distressed.

I have tried relaxation and meditation books but maybe a CD would work better, she resisted the guided imagery exercises when I read them but a CD might be a novel approach to get her to co-operate.

She already has a drink bottle in her room and normally goes to the toilet before her bath, it really is just an excuse.

Thanks for the replies.

[itsmemacdolby]

Hi OP

Our DD is the same - FYOS and just can't wind down. She is v tired, dark circles etc. We've just started the lights out at such and such a time (about 30 mins after we come downstairs) and leave a light in the room opposite on for her. It seems to be helping her to shut off.

Our DD has always also gone to sleep with the light on so its a big thing for her.

I may give the Brauers a go too, thanks PP.

[belinda1976]

My DD1 in her FYOS and for the first couple of weeks would lay in bed til 8/8.30pm but for the past week she's been going off to sleep pretty well.

A few of my other friends have said for the first couple of weeks of kindergarten their kids didn't fall asleep for ages after they were put to bed then slowly the tiredness has caught up. I've certainly noticed my DD1 has been a bit more grumpier and stropy in the afternoon and I can only put this down to tiredness.

The things I would suggest are (and what my DD1 has)

Music - DD listens to Music for Dreaming which is fantastic, even I could fall asleep to it

Sticker chart for good behaviour

Dimmer light (might mean getting an electrican in to put a dimmer switch on your ceiling light). DD2 has one of these and it's bright enough to see but dark enough to sleep, works a treat!

Good luck!

[-al-]

I would suggest getting rid of the night lamp/light, and also look at stopping any electronics - tv, computer etc 4 or more hours before bed. These are two things which have worked for us for our DS who is good at staying in bed but struggles to get to sleep.

[smultron]

It can be so distressing having a child who has difficulty falling asleep.

My DS turned 8 at the weekend and has a terrible time falling to sleep but then sleeps all night.. wakes early though around 6.30am. I'm starting to realise that he may not need as much sleep as other kids his age. He wakes refreshed, happy and is extremely bright (that's another thing I've been reading about- so called gifted children requiring less sleep and having great trouble with late sleep onset) so I'm trying not to worry quite so much about him not getting 10-11hrs sleep a night. I think 7.30pm is just too early for him to sleep but we still implement the bedtime routine starting around 7pm.. bath or shower, brushing teeth, books then lights out. It's more like 8.30-9pm before he is ready for lights out. This child likes a nightlight so has one of those Ikea rubbery ones- Spoka. He also likes the patterns on the wall with a lava lamp which is quite bright and gets warm so I turn that off when I go to bed.

Some things that we have tried:
audio books- seemed to make him calmer but might keep awake waiting to hear what happens..
Badger Sleep Balm- a calming balm in a tin that has lavender oils etc. All 3 of my boys use this on temples and swear that it really works and they wake feeling that they have slept deeper. I have also used this and found it quite good... could be good for your DS to feel that they have 'help' at hand. It's completely organic and safe.
I have been trying a few drops of Bach Sleep remedy in a half glass of water but don't want to use this all the time.
A pharmacist recommended Blackmores Calcium Phosphate- haven't looked into that yet.

We still have terrible trouble though: on Friday night he had a record of being awake at 11.40pm and was in tears he was so frustrated. (it was his birthday on Sat though so that might have contributed).

My DS 5 is also FYOS like your DD and he also appears to have some trouble falling asleep. Nothing works better for him than having my DH or I lie next to him and gently stroke his back.. we do it to ensure that he drops off to sleep but obviously can't continue with that longterm.

Good luck with the techniques.. I think the best advice I can give is to try not to be too anxious about it. The time you are trying might be too early for your child so perhaps push bedtime back by 1/2 hr.. it might mean that she falls asleep quicker in the long run.

[Etcetera]

Can you move dinner earlier and give her more time to relax and unwind afterwards?
My 5yo has sleep issues and is on melatonin.