My 13-year-old can't sleep - any help/advice?

[sarahanne1969]

Hi, one of my 13-year-olds can't sleep at the moment. He can't get off to sleep, and then lies away for ages, ends up crying and coming through to get me. I go in to his room with him to try to get him back off to sleep, end up sleeping in bedroom next to him so I'm nearby and he then eventually goes back to sleep. DH going nuts as thinks I am giving in to him, but he is really upset and can't sleep. Am going to google this and see if I can find any solutions but anyone else going through this? I am trying to restrict his screen time, and making him go outside/exercise to help him. He is getting more and more tired by the day - bit worried as it's really upsetting him and he looks shattered. Is this a lockdown thing maybe as it's not happened with him before now since he was really little - is this happening with anyone else's kids?

Magnesium works wonders for me - out like a light and then I sleep much deeper.

Mindfulness music - I have a podcast and app that has sleep music which is good background noise to help stop the mind racing/worrying.
DS has an audiobook on, one that he’s heard a few times otherwise he stays awake longer to hear what happens next!

I had this off and on during my teens, I'd put a film on that I knew so well my brain switched off and I fell asleep eventually. Even if I didn't go to sleep as early as I'd have liked, the familiar background noise was comforting.

Did some research yesterday and gave him a small does of Lemon Balm and another herb for calming mind/restfulness last night. He was not allowed on X box yesterday, forced to do a 30 min outdoor cycle session, made him come off tech at 8pm last night and sprayed his pillows/duvet with magnesium and lavender sleep lotion. Opened window, and made him have cool shower before bed. He slept through! Not tempting fate here but got to be onto something - going to try again tonight with same. hope it works. xx

Dr Chatterjee is an excellent resource around sleep. Excellent advice in his book 4 Pillar Plan but also try this podcast

drchatterjee.com/how-to-get-a-good-nights-sleep-the-very-best-tips-on-sleep/

I've just had a thread deleted for apparently breaking talk guidelines.
It was asking for a reccomendation for an alternative reputable supplier for melatonin gummies (he can't take tablets) for ds other than Biovea who are out of stock. Yet this thread is allowed to remain. I'm saddened as they have been life changing for him and both the GP and the CAMHS know and are happy that he is taking it and even gave me advice on dosage.

When I think of the 12 years or so of hell ds has been through with his sleep. Biovea was originally recomended on mumsnet to me. Now I don;t know where to turn.

@Comefromaway I bought some Melatonin gummies from a website called iHerb, it’s an international website so postage was a bit pricey but it was a huge tub and the delivery time wasn’t too long either.

Aww poor baby. This might or might not be a pandemic thing bec I got insomnia seemingly out of nowhere when I was in my late teens. Ive learned to manage it quite well by now, but you're going to have to cooperate a little with your teen to find something that works. The first thing Id suggest is to ask a physician to prescribe a dosage of melatonin (you can also get it delivered online www.vitaminexpress.org/uk/melatonin-supplements). Melatonin is a great drug to help sleep and its been a life saver for me.

Iv found no screens 2 hours before bed. Audiobooks if he does wake