DD is nearly 9. She has some neuro diversity, awaiting diagnosis currently, but has quite high sensory needs, and goes through phases of being unable to get herself to sleep. When she has three phases she needs us to stroke her back to get her relaxed enough to get to sleep. I try stop before she's actually asleep so that she doesn't become dependent on it, but that seems to have happened anyway :(
This latest phase has gone on for weeks and weeks now, and I am exhausted. I need to do some work in the evenings and I can't, I'm constantly up and down the stairs to stroke her back. She usually falls asleep somewhere around 10pm.
I didn't want to consider medication but I'm wondering whether I should ask the GP to try melatonin, or if I should insist that she tries longer on her own to get to sleep before I agree to stroke her back... I am going through a separation at the moment so in the near future I will be on my own with her at bedtime. I just want to help her find a way to sleep on her own. Any advice welcomed from people who may have been through something similar!