To expect my child to sleep!

[Allyg1185]

Bit of history first. My 6 year ds 7 in two months has never been a good sleeper. As a new born he would be awake almost all day looking around him. As a toddler he would be up for periods during the night unsettled. As he got older I managed to go from sitting in the room with him till he fell asleep to through in my room to eventually downstairs. Then things settled down during the night and this is where we are today.

For the past year and a half he has a carry on at bedtime. We have the same routine. He gets plenty warning its coming up to bed time. Then we go upstairs brush teeth, try for the toilet, story, kiss and cuddle then I come downstairs. Then the fun begins!

Within minutes hes up at the top of the stairs with various excuses. There is many to hot, to cold, not tired, needs more water, wants jammies off etc etc this can go on for an hour. Up at least twice but can be as much as 4 or 5. Eventually he settles around 9pmish. Sorry I should have said he goes to bed around 8pm.

Once hes asleep hes only up once for a pee and goes straight back to sleep but hes up really early around 6am or just before. I tell him to go back to bed. Hes got a clock in his room and I tell him hes not allowed to come back until 7.00am. However hes through countless times telling me he is bored and not tired.

Just seems like I get one area of his sleep sorted and another problem starts.

Hes very active and is always out playing with his friends after school either bikes or trampolines or climbing trees. Attends swimmimg class one night a week and we are and outdoorsy active family at the weekends.

I should add it doesn't matter how late he goes to bed hes still up really early.

I think I've added as much information as I can.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

@EekThreek

I would call it emotional abuse, yes. While obviously children shouldn't be jumping about just before bed, this obsession with banishing kids to their beds at a set time is incredibly strange.

As I said, would you be happy to be told you had to be in bed at 8 every night even though you're never tired at that time and don't need that much sleep? Oh, and if you can't sleep, you'll have your iPad and TV removed. I find it quite a repulsive idea tbh.

And the elephant in the room-who is it actually for?

Kids have bed times. It's just how it works schools start early jobs start early etc if there is nothing wrong with some quiet time in your room befire bed. People have shit to do in the evenings. Nothing wrong with not wanting to be up til midnight because your kid won't let you do stuff.

God knows the neighbours don't wanna hear shouting down the stairs all evening. Discouraging that by dicilplinong a child for unsuitable behaviour is hardly abusive. What if dad was on early shifts and needed to sleep.you can't go makimg a racket just because you aren't tired

OP, have you tried white noise to block out the neighbours and see if it helps him to swtich his brain off and get off to sleep? You can download apps or buy a white noise machine from Amazon that runs overnight.