Not going to sleep

[Momof2]

Have had a problem with my DD not going to sleep until 10pm at the earliest recently, she doesn't mess around, goes to bed at 8pm, reads quietly for 15mins after I have read to her and then lies there quietly unable to sleep for ages. I am trying not to get overwrought by this and worry her into worrying about not sleeping iyswim, but I am very anxious as she now complains in the morning that she is too tired. Have tried warm drink and banana, lights on, lights off, waking her up at 7am instead of 7.30, letting her read until she falls asleep (was still reading at 10pm last night!), not letting her watch TV, letting her watch TV but nothing seems to work.
Is this usual for a 7 year old? Is there anything I can do to help her?

My DD is also 7. Haven't had the same problem, but have you tried with a hot bath? I have sleep problems on and off and it helps me to relax.

Thanks Fariymum, had not thought of that as she usually has showers in the am to wake her up!
Will give this a go tonight, thanks again.

I have a ds aged 5.5, who has this problem on occasions, ususally when he's very, very tired. It's as though he just cannot wind down.

I have been pushed to taking him out of school for the day, insisting on quiet play for most of the day, a warm bath and then bed. Seems to do the trick to get him back on track, although I feel it's quite a desperate measure to take.

Hope this helps!

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My mom said that from a very early young age I always stayed up until 11pm. Slept in a bit on weekends, but she gave up trying to make me go to bed earlier, deciding I just did not need much sleep.

My mom's memory very dicey, but certainly I can remember always sitting up until the 11pm news with my dad -- since before 7yo, and by 5yo according to my mother.

I still have erratic sleep patterns & insomnia (who else in UK routinely posts to Mumsnet at 3-4am?)) & have resigned myself to it being a fact of life.

So I do think, regardless of expert "opinion", that some children really don't need as much sleep as is often recommended.