6yo won't sleep and I'm ready to explode

[DorianMeile]

I've tried everything. Tea at 5, healthy snack if he gets hungry, healthy diet, no caffeine and low sugar. Lots of exercise after school (biking/playground). Limited screen time and no tv after tea. Bath at 7, out by 7:30, pj's, bed, teeth brushed, stories - always still wide bloody awake. Room is dark with gro clock. Blackout curtains for summer. He's wired until 11/12 sometimes. Talking, up and down, says his brain won't turn off. Lots of support from school and on adhd pathway. There must be something I can do. I'm at my wits end!

Has he always been like this?
My son always has fought sleep since the day he was born and I had to come to the conclusion that I'll put him to bed later than other kids rather than stress about it.
Maybe tell him if he wants to stay up another hour he's only allowed to do reading while you fold clothes? Something that is a calm activity for both of you but it allows you to get on with life/chores a little??!

I have no advice but can sympathise. My daughter (7) can sometimes takes hours to fall asleep. I’ve done the bedtime routine like you. The only thing that helps is that she loves reading and will read in bed quietly most nights. Does your son like reading? Could that help?

Ask the gp for some melatonin - sleep can be really hard if he does have adhd. This really helped my DS to sleep.

Sorry I meant to say this works a bit with my son because I'm not trying to force him to sleep he actually starts getting tired earlier than if I kept repeating "right it's bed time now, get to bed, lie down" etc. now he comes to me and says I've had a nice day, tell me about your day in bed while we lie down etc.. completely different than when he used to bounce off the walls

Melatonin.

Ruddy hard to get though. Might have to do the online thing.

I have heard weighted blankets really help cut down the time spent 'settling'

Yup, she’s never slept. We now let her fall asleep on the sofa while we watch tv or we never have an evening. Not perfect but needs must.

Buy melatonin online or if you have any friends / family visiting America they sell it in the vitamin aisle there.

Melatonin especially if on an ADHD pathway.

Failing that- take your foot of the pedal and lower expectations of bed=sleep. Keep the winding down, and after stories etc perhaps suggest that he can read/play quietly- like a puzzle or Lego or something or colouring until he’s ready to sleep? So he can begin to self regulate.

If he is on adhd pathway then he may not be a sleeper. Iv two that ok with sleep and one that doesn't and he ended up being prescribed melatonin.
We had to do hideous amount of exercise on an evening - good hour biking, scooting etc to thoroughly exhaust them.

Will he stay in bed and listen to stories on audible ? You can put it on a sleep timer for one hour and play it quite quietly . It's helped with my daughter,

White noise machine and weighted blanket.

Blue light therapy might also help.

My dc 1 had adhd and never sleeps. We got him a cd player and plenty of books for his room so he could read until he conked out (reading is his hyper focus and helps quieten his mind). He doesn't have to be asleep but he does have to stay in his room (apart from the loo, obvs) and this works well. Could you try something along those lines?

He can only read 3 letter words (he's quite behind but flying through maths!). It's a struggle.

Reading seems to be a go to so will keep in mind for when he's caught up with this.

Looking into weighted blankets, thank you. Not sure why but white noise makes him really angry.

Try some mightykids magnesium liquid, mix with fresh apple juice. It's a little pricey but it's working for us (my child has adhd)

The magnesium is a good idea. I use sweet bee organics magnesium butter on the soles of my son's feet after bathtime and have seen an improvement in his ability to focus at bed time. Also second the weighted blanket. I got him to pick his sonic one out and he was so excited for it to arrive and try it out.

I've looked at it but just can't afford it. Will try post winter though (overdraft tends to expand in winter then fall in summer!)

Forgot to add he takes magnesium, b6 and vit d (vit d mainly because he has dark skin but heard it can help with sleep too!)

It's first got to be prescribed by a specialist...then if approved a GP can carry on.

My 7yo is like this. Audio sleep stories help. Sometimes it's 11pm every night though

I'm so exhausted. My ideal bedtime is 9:30. I can't cope with this little sleep. No idea how he does. School see no signs of tiredness.

I have no ADHD experience so apologies if I'm miles off, but could a Yoto player be an option? It's an audiobook player, no screens. Kids can use it themselves. Has a nightlight/geo clock idea built in.

It really settles my kids to lie in the dark and listen to it (though I have never had the problem you are facing).

They sell stories from paw patrol to the chronicles of Narnia and my 6 year old and 7 year old adore it.

The now 6 year old was probably about 4.5 when he really embraced it (having had it for a year at that point and wondering if it was all a waste) but now he speaks like Enid Blyton.

Lots of threads on here about them if needed.

Yes we have a yoto. He will listen for a while then it ends up being launched or the cards bent because it isn't the exact story or chapter he wants. I swear everything is a battle.