Upgrade mine and my child’s sleep space?

[Sleepepeeepe]

Ok so my six-year-old is constantly in my bed at night. None of us sleep well. It’s too hot, we’re all angry and exhausted all day, nothing is comfortable.

Please help me make a better sleep space! Should I get an air conditioning unit? I know it’s almost autumn but it feels blazing hot in my room even though we’ve had a pretty shit summer.

We also have a lot of mosquitos come in during the night if the window is open. Mosquito screens? Again, I know summer is nearly over.

What kind of sheets?

I’m uncomfortable and utterly EXHAUSTED. I would rather my six-year-old didn’t come into my room. Or even slept on the floor (she had a little pull out mattress there but rarely uses it). I’ve tried all sorts of bribery to stop that, and I know she needs the comfort so I give in.

How about her bedtime routine? Anything in there to help? She’s ND (ADHD) and seeks comfort at night (wants to hug me all night). She resists baths a lot and resists bedtimes in general.

Anything at all to even make a tiny difference?

I’ve got a cracking headache and am struggling to keep my eyes open today, and am generally fed up of her this holiday and it’s because we’re both tired and moody!

Help!

Bump!

Is her room cooler? Can you get a bigger bed in there? My band nine year old has had a Yoto for a few years and after some experiments we just let him listen to a story all night x

We could put a spare bed in there - a small single - but would lose a lot of play space! But her room is a little cooler. We also have a yoto and she listens to that or audiobooks to fall asleep (struggles without but I do worry I’m giving her sleep attachments!).

But I wonder if - like you suggest - in her own room, the stories could just constantly play and if she woke up, it wouldn’t matter - they’d still be on but not disturbing anyone else?!

If she likes to be hugged all night she might like a compression sheet. They are a stretchy lycra that tuck round the mattress and give a bit of a squeeze all night. Ours was around £20 on Amazon although thay was a few years ago. I imagine they'll have gone up since.

We also used a light projector and had a story playing to keep thier rooms really calm and block out the sounds of us downstairs. Story would usually be left playing for most of the night. We found that it worked best to use familiar ones, so we knew there were no sudden loud noises or scary bits.

Ooh, just remembering we used to do a pre bed massage. My youngest needed deep pressure from that and a bit of time with a weighted blanket before bed. Eldest loved a lavender body lotion from Lush. I think it might even have been called sleepy.

I used to worry about sleep associations with a story but then realised I listen to an audiobook to fall asleep and nobody thinks that’s weird as a 42 year old!

We swapped DS’s bed for a small double and that has worked well for nights when he wakes and needs someone to sleep with him. Can also sometimes lie down and then creep out!

Fly screens are wonderful! We have them on every window and a concertina on the sliding doors and I couldn't live in a house without them now. Ours are made to measure and clip in and out, rather than the velcro ones which don't last, but they're at least 20 years old. It means you can enjoy the cooler night air and let the heat out.

Ok this is great! I’ve ordered some fly screens - although quite cheap ones.

I love the idea of a massage and a compression sheet. I wonder if I should have a very strict bedtime routine?

Another night of being disturbed again last night - I am so tired of being tired! I’m not even in the baby years anymore!