ADHD/Attachment Disorder Bedtime Routine

[Trents88]

Hi there, after a bit of advice. Maybe some tips/technques to try.

Daughter is 8 years old, adopted and with us since she was 1. Diagnosed with ADHD and Attachment disorder within past few years.

Naturally that means she has a constant restless nature, and this is a an issue a bedtime. We will take her up to bed around half 7 and read for at least half an hour. She will lie still fine during this.

Once we leave the room, she gets restless again. We have to sit in the next room(mum/dad take it in turns) to act as a sounding board or she will come out of the room.

We understand her brain is busy and once she decides that she wants to lie still and sleep, she drops of pretty fast. It's getting her to that point. She is obviously tired but fights it off for as long as she can. Over the past year that point of sleeping has gone from around 9:30 to between 10-10:30. Resulting in a tired kid in the morning. It's also tying up our evenings having one or both of us constantly there to ask her to calm down and try and sleep.

We have tried many different routines. Changed timings from 7:30, earlier and later. Tried reading longer. Nothing seems to work. All electronics are off early too. We have looked at medication but really want that to be a last resort.

As I said at the start, all suggestions/tips/techniques are very welcome. Thanks in advance.

[Puddlelane123]

One of my dc has a similarly restless mind (finds it really hard to switch off) and I have found that leaving him listening to children’s meditation cds (lots available on amazon) has made a big difference. Ditto by adding deep sea salts to his bath water and introducing a magnesium supplement at bedtime. You can also get child suitable massage lotions with lavender and magnesium in them (brand might be BetterYou?) which is a nice thing to introduce into bedtime routine for legs / arms.

[Porridgeoat]

Warm bath, banana, book read, debrief about the day with lots of warmth, meditation with breathing exercise,

Also consider audible stories in the dark

[Trents88]

Thanks for the replies. We hadn't considered the meditation music or audiobook route so will give thaose a go.

[stargirl1701]

We have a Yoto player for DD1 to listen to audiobooks.

[Puddlelane123]

The meditation stories / guided meditation ones are best as I found they wound my son down better than the pure music ones!

Good luck!

[121Sarah121]

My son is 5 and also adopted and has separation anxiety, attachment and trauma issues.

He needs about 12 hours of sleep a night due to being so hyper vigilant during the day.

He has dinner about 5 and spend a lot of time talking about the day etc. Quick bedtime routine (about 5 minutes as he because anxious at bedtime). Changed into pyjamas, teeth brushed etc. Read 2 picture books or a few pages of a chapter book called while on my lap and rocking him slightly with a blanket.

Then we play the same audio book (he knows it word by word. The repetitive is soothing).

Then we sit in the hall where he can see my feet but not make eye contact.

This works for us.

[ippydippay]

I attended an online children's sleep reflexology class, it makes my non ADHD ds very relaxed and sleepy, perhaps this could help?