To worry so much about bedtimes and what's normal?

[MrsShitty]

My DD is 7 (8 in July) and can't seem to sleep easily. She wants a DVD, she wants a drink, she wants to read...she can't wind down and I have tried EVERYTHING to work her into being shattered and relaxed at bedtime.

She currently falls asleep at about 9.00pm or 9.30...sometimes later........is that horrendously late for her age?

She has a bath or shower....a story, then a little read on her own and I aim to put the lights out at 8.00pm....cue moaning and gnashing of teeth that she caaaant sleeeeeep!!!

Should I just put her to bed at 9.00 or something? A friend says his son is out like a light at 7.30pm! Same age! SO...Am I putting her to bed too early now or what?

I wouldn't worry too much. My 2 and 6 year old go to bed at about 8pm, sometimes earlier if they are tired, sometimes later if weekend/holidays etc.

Bring lights out time half an hour earlier so she still has time to wind down but it's not so late.

What time does she wake up in the morning? my (same age) DS is the same as your DD - he is in bed around 8pm every night but very rarely falls asleep before 9pm. however, he normally is awake soon after 6am every morning so I figure he is getting enough sleep for him!!

DD (who is 6) is always asleep by 8 and quite often has to be woken at 7.30 for school. Different children need different amounts of sleep.

Please don't worry too much - if she's healthy and alert during the day, I'd say she's fine. I think everyone is different when it comes to sleep.

Like some others here, I suffer from insomnia and always have done, even as a child. I also don't seem to need much sleep - 6 hours is fine for me.

I remember being sent to bed as a child at a relatively early time (not early, maybe around 9ish but earlier than I needed to iyswim) and just lying there and being awake even after my parents went to bed and were long asleep themselves. I really hated it and found it so boring and even now I have the same problem. My sister was the opposite, she would need a lot of sleep and still does.

Perhaps send her at 9pm and see what happens. If she's asleep sooner, less fuss then maybe it's a good thing. If she's still awake an hour later, then bring the bedtime earlier again. Perhaps change the clocks so she can't see that you've changed things round.

My daughter (3) seems to show the same traits as me. I'm hoping that she'll settle as she gets older and starts school (and the school day wears her out), but at the moment I can see when she's tired and send her to bed then. It wouldn't be worth sending her any earlier as she just would not go to sleep if she wasn't tired.

OP my dd1 is 6 yo and the same as you describe. I constantly fret that she isnt getting enough sleep, but she mostly seems fine with it. My dd really hates the light being turned off

Im going to get a lava lamp or similar- I thought watching the colours might be a bit hypnotic?? Havent tried it yet- but may be worth a go?