10 yo DS with genuine insomnia - please help

[Queenofknickers]

He wants to go to sleep so much in fact he's in tears and can't understand why he can't sleep. It's been going on for a few weeks and on and off for a couple of years. Have tried hypnosis CDs etc, warm milky drinks but he's just awake. Any ideas please?

[SconeForAStroll]

Is he worrying about something Queen? Sats?

Dd (also 10) goes through these stages every once in a while. We too tried the things on your list - she liked listening to audio books but her favourite is a cuddle. Almost like cuddling a toddler to sleep really.

Sorry that isn't much help - but much sympathy

[FullOfChoc]

My DD is the same and we've had a little bit of success with listening to the relax kids cds. I lay on the bed with her and we listen to a couple of tracks.

Regular bed/lights out time and get up time. Also lots of exercise seems to help too.

Good luck to us all!

[cece]

I have had 5 years of my DS1 not sleeping well. I finally got a hospital appointment 2 weeks ago. Apparently he has ADHD and that is why he can't sleep.

[VeryStressedMum]

My dd is the same, I was desperate as her lack of sleep was impacting her whole life. The only thing that worked was the Paul McKenna I can make you sleep CD now she's out in 5 minutes. But I know you've tried that ..Have you tried any sleep remedies? I actually went to the doctor for tablets as I was desperate for her to sleep more but he wouldn't prescribe any as she's young (13) he said to give her kalms night tablets, even though they're supposed to be for 18+ years, but she won't swallow tablets so couldn't try those. We did find a liquid sleep remedy called potter's nod off or something but it didn't work very well.

Now I give her rescue remedy night and put the earphones on, she listens to Paul for a bit and she's asleep. But I totally know how you feel when they can't sleep, it really is awful for them and you.
Does he gave anxieties or any worries? But sometimes it starts off as not being able to sleep for whatever reason then just becoming an ingrained habit probably made worse that he's expecting to not being able to sleep.

Also when she listens to Paul I sit at the end of her bed sometimes (she has anxieties) it relaxes her enough so she switches off and can sleep but it's getting better and I don't sit there all the time now.

[Queenofknickers]

Thanks everyone for replying. He says he's not worried about anything. He would fall asleep if I snuggled next to him to DH thinks that's "ridiculous" . I think I will try something like night time rescue remedy even just so he feels I'm trying to help him.

[BeaWheesht]

I'd just snuggle next to him tbh

[VeryStressedMum]

Lie down with him Queen, or at least sit on the end of the bed (I bring my phone/tablet) if that's what it takes to get him to sleep. Soon enough it will become easy for him to fall asleep easily and on his own you won't be doing it forever.
Your dh probably thinks he's too old to have to lie with him but he's only 10 and if it carries on it may well get worse and it probably won't magically sort itself out. Chronic lack of sleep meant my dd couldn't concentrate at school so she started failing most of her subjects, and it made her moody and irritable.
Yes it's probably ridiculous that I have to lie, or sit, with a child who is almost 14 but I really don't care what people think. She sleeps which is the mist important thing. She's back on track at school and her mood is so much better.

[SconeForAStroll]

Hmm. I tend to ignore my dh in these sorts of situations. I would snuggle down with him too..

[FullOfChoc]

I love the paul mckenna sleep cd and use it myself. I'm keeping that idea in reserve for DD.

Lavender oil on her pillow and thinking of 5 pleasant things to think about as she falls asleep, together are also strategies which have had a positive