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Teenagers

Teen Struggling with Sleep

13 replies

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 29/01/2020 23:16

DD (14) has said that she's struggling to get to sleep at night and often wanders about at midnight or tries to sleep but is kept awake by her thoughts. .

I'm trying to think of some techniques to help her unwind after a busy day and wondered if anyone has some good tips? She does take warm baths some nights and likes a drink of warm milk.

Tonight, I'm planning to give her some lavender oil to put on her wrists and neck (I have this lavender stick that's supposed to aid sleep) and I'm planning to sit with her and do some breathing exercises and try progressive muscle relaxation. Someone recommended an app that guides you through them - not looking at the screen as I think that's distracting - but listening to the instructions with background music.

I hope this helps, but any other recommendations welcome. We already take away devices before bedtime.

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Serenschintte · 29/01/2020 23:19

Herbal sleeping tablets helped my son. They were prescribed by a psychiatristc but you can also get the over the counter.
It’s Valerian the active ingredient I think. they have really helped him

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DCIRozHuntley · 29/01/2020 23:20

My 8 year old sometimes struggles. She has a weighted blanket occasionally, and we try to go for a run before tea when we can

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Whoops75 · 29/01/2020 23:21

My ds18 was prescribed phenergan also over the counter to help with a busy head at night.

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Nomorechips · 29/01/2020 23:24

There's an app where a man with a soothing voice tells stories that help you fall asleep. Sorry not much use as I can't remember the name. You might be able to Google it. It was a help with sleep website or hopefully someone on here will recognise what I'm talking about and be able to tell you. Teens body locks are different so it's common for them to have this problem and then catch up at the weekend. The Daily Fail has been having articles on sleeping all this week including teen sleep.

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latheritup · 29/01/2020 23:36

Lush do a lovely lotion that's called Sleepy. I'd recommend!

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whattodo2019 · 29/01/2020 23:37

I posted something similar the other day. I was recommended these herbal tablets
www.naturedoc.shop/product/bee-rested-sleep-support/

They have worked a treat.

I also bought this mood spray
www.spots-and-stripes.com/product/sleep-mood-spray/

My daughter is sleeping like a dream

BTW- lavender sprays made my DD feel very sick. This spray has no lavender

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punknarwhal · 29/01/2020 23:42

An app called Calm is good

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ZoeandChandon · 29/01/2020 23:47

Rescue remedy Night time.

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giggly · 29/01/2020 23:54

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AmICrazyorWhat2 · 30/01/2020 00:52

Thank everyone. We're in the US so we can buy Melatonin in a pharmacy. I tried it once to combat jet lag and it didn't do anything for me, but it might be worth a try for her.

I'm a bit reluctant to try herbal supplement right away as I don't want her to feel that she has to take something" in order to sleep, but we have to try some.

Thanks again.

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Rocsand03 · 30/01/2020 08:33

My 14 year old son has always had issues with sleep and his mind doing overtime about stuff. We’ve tried different things over the years including lavender but the one thing he relies on are calming videos. He sometimes watches amsr videos to ... which the sound of does my head in but apparently they do help people with anxiety x

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AmICrazyorWhat2 · 31/01/2020 14:47

Quick update. I've been trying to support DD with winding down, tried the controlled breathing and muscle relaxation; took her devices away earlier in the evening and guess what, she's looking better rested and less coldy than she was on Wednesday.

But, in typical teen fashion, she's telling me that my ideas are rubbish and don't work (even though she's been asleep much earlier) and that I don't understand, etc. etc. Grin

So I'm a hopeless, middle-aged parent who doesn't get it. Grin I'm not going to give up, though, she's stuck with me!

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Rocsand03 · 31/01/2020 16:05

That’s exactly how my son goes when he hasn’t got them and apparently we know nothing 🙄

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