Bed times, sleep problems?

[Endler32]

Dd1 us 11, she has Aspergers and often suffers with anxiety, up until recently she has been going to sleep around 9pm and I wake her at 7am for school but the past couple of week she has been staying awake past 10.30pm, saying she's not tired but then won't wake up in the morning ( the past few days she has been asleep past 9.30am ).

Tonight I sent her to be just before 9pm but now she's moaning that she can't sleep, telling me her friends stay up much later and I'm mean for sending her to bed early.

I know she's turning into a teenager, she grunts at me, she answers back and moans a lot but I'm worried that her school work will suffer if she doesn't get sleep.

Should I just let her stay up until she's tired and then drag her out of bed in the mornings? How can I get her to sleep?

[LastingLight]

No screens for at least an hour before bed, in bed reading 30 minutes before lights out. You can try chamomile tea to calm her down if she will drink it.

[Endler32]

I told her no screen time last night after 8pm, she then read for an hour but couldn't sleep, she was still awake when I went to bed just after 10.30pm, I was really mean and woke her up at 7.30am this morning, she's back to school tomorrow so will have to be asleep earlier tonight.

[ArtfulPuss]

Just posted this on another thread - maybe try an oil burner with lavender oil in her room an hour or so before bedtime? Works for our DS1 (10) who suffers with anxiety, which had started affecting his sleep and consequently his behaviour and performance at school. Or if she doesn't like the idea of a candle in her room (DS1 took a bit of persuading, as he was convinced initially that it would burn the house down) you can get those wheat pillow things that you can fragrance with essential oil and warm up. If she's into crafts she might even like to make one herself. (And if she's not keen on the smell of lavender, there are other essential oils that are supposed to aid sleep.) Good luck - sleep issues are exhausting for all concerned at any age!

[Endler32]

Thank you, she probably would panic about having a candle ( fires one of the many fears she has ), I will try the lavender .

Last night I sent her to be early, I don't think she fell asleep very early as she was in a foul mood this morning, telling me how mean I am for sending her to bed early.