DD(9) trouble sleeping

[shebird]

DD has always been a good sleeper likes regular bedtimes and routine. Recently she has found it difficult to get to sleep and I can't figure out why. We've tried later bedtimes, earlier bedtimes, reading etc. but still she ends up coming downstairs every 10minutes until quite late saying she can't get to sleep meaning she's often not getting to sleep until late. She says she is not worried about anything and is otherwise happy with school and friends etc. I think it's just become a habit now and we need to break the cycle. We then have grumpy moodiness the next day and I'm worried it will impact on her at school. Any one with similar experience with any ideas how to resolve this?

We have similar with our 9 yr old DD, although she has often struggled getting to sleep and has never slept more than 10 hrs. She now has a 9.00pm bed time but must already be in PJs etc.

At 9.00, we go up to bed with her, read, talk etc for 10 mins. Then she snuggles down and has to try to go to sleep whilst we stay for 2 mins,then leave.

10 mins later we go back just to say goodnight, don't stay, don't talk but she knows we are coming. Mostly she is asleep but if not we go back every 10 mins until she is. This stops her coming downstairs, in fact the rule is that she can't get out of bed, or call us. If she does, she has to wait longer for us to come up.

Good luck.

Thanks Heifer I might give this a try. I feel like we've gone back years and I need to teach her to settle herself to sleep again! I just get so annoyed and end up shouting which of course only makes things worse.