Tired and won't bloody well sleep

[fruitstick]

Have always had issues with DS1s sleep. Bedtimes used to be a nightmare but have hot better with reward chart.

He is 5.

The problem is that I can never find the right balance between enough activity to wear him out and so much that he is bouncing of the walls.

Yesterday, we had great day at country park. Out for 4 hours. Back after lunch and some quiet time drawing and watching tv. But then, by 5pm he was going besetk. Running round, shouting, silly noises.

I thought he would crash out early but he was still getting out of bed and coming downstairs at gone 9pm.

Then he was awake at 6am today but is exhausted. Very twitchy, can't keep still.

I know he needs more sleep but short to tranquiliser gun I don't know what to do.

Always had a consistent bedtime. Stories, songs etc.

Diet maybe? Dehydrated?

I'm just so bored of the constant battle.

i'm sure i read that one hould avoid exercising 2 hours before bedtime.

what's his wind-down routine? my 4yo needs a good 60min wind down before bed.

Bath at 630 with brother (2). Then stories, including his reading, then songs. I leave him about 745.

Not always calm though and I do worry that DH winds them up as he comes in around 6/630. Not much I can do about that though!

He's my Ds's twin!
We even have quiet time for an hour before bedtime just to slow him down but nothing seems to work. We have a good bedtime routine, bath, milk, stories which works for the other children - just not ds. We were out for over 4 hours on friday, he said he was tired when we came home but after (in his words) "I counted to 50 and I'm no longer tired" he was back to being very lively.

Glad to know I'm not the only one.

It seems to be a vicious circle and aggravates me more and more. It would be fine if he was just full of energy but it's more like hyperactivity. Jumping, noises, like he's had 2 cans of red bull (not that he ever has [;-)].

I cannot find a way to make him keep still, let alone calm down.

Will be watching this with interest - my 5 year old is exactly the same!!