4.5 year old difficult bedtime

[acquiescence]

My 4.5 year old just doesn’t want to go to sleep at night. He has a good stable bedtime routine, stories, sometimes an audiobook, and then me sitting by him telling him a made up story and then stroking his back until he goes to sleep. This is the only way he will sleep and the whole process takes over an hour, he is rarely asleep before 9.15pm. We start getting ready for bed around 7.

We have tried an earlier bedtime, a later bedtime, sticker charts and rewards, more audiobooks, being more firm. Nothing changes it, it has been like this for 6 months or so. He is so exhausted but just tries to stay awake. If we try to leave him alone he jumps around, throws things, rips all his toys and books out etc or just starts playing as if it’s the morning. We often have meltdowns which are horrible. My patience is so frayed. I feel like he shouldn’t need this level of input at this age! He seems to be a night owl as sleeps well generally. He has never needed more than 10 hours sleep a night.

Anything new to try?

No advice but my DD is the same, maybe once they go to school they might be more tired and fall asleep easier, I live in hope haha.

My girl also only has 10 hours a night even though she needs 12 and it turns into a vicious cycle of overtiredness.

@Overmylimit sorry to hear that. Fingers crossed for start of school.

We had a slightly better night last night, as in no meltdowns, but didn’t go up to bed until nearly 9pm after a busy day. I just want a bit of time in the evening!

Same here- could have written this word for word. He's always played quietly in his room from 8 then called down for a story when he's ready to sleep (half 8 ish) but now won't play on his own or quietly and if we leave him to it is often still playing by 10pm eeeek. This is after a minimum of 2 miles walking plus parks etc. He's also learning to read as I wondered if he was under stimulated. You're not alone op! Tips welcome!!