7 year old finding it hard to get to sleep.

[sphil]

DS1 (7.5) goes to bed between about 7 and 7.30. We let him read in bed for a while, though not beyond 7.45 on a school night. He doesn't often get off to sleep until about 9.30. He says his body 'just won't let him'.

He's very imaginative child, who often talks about his brain 'whirring'. Sometimes he comes downstairs saying he's scared, but most of the time he just lies there. He has music on, we don't allow computer or TV after dinner and he has a regular bed/bath routine.

Does anyone have similar experience, or any tips for helping him? He is nearly always bright as a button in the mornings - wakes up and leaps out of bed in a second! But he doesn't find school easy and I worry that these late nights won't help.

Bumping for you.

Hi Sphil, he sounds almost exactly like my DS who is 7.4. The only thing I have found helps is staying in his room and reading to him for a good 1/2 hour or more while he lies in bed at the side of me and/or a hot water bottle - which isnt always appropriate when its warm (plus its bloody hassle sorting it sometimes!!LOL)

I would love some tips on this also

I'd recommend later bed time. If he's often awake till 9.30, but still bright in the morning, he clearly needs that amount of sleep.

had to see psycholigist with my ds & 1 of 1st Q was what time does he go to bed and what time does he actually fall asleep. He said it's a common mistake for parents to send their kids to bed too early (in relation to the time they fall asleep) and that is extremely stressful for a child to be in bed but unable to sleep every night.

So I would suggest later bed time, and also something to relax him so he can shut down - not sure how to achieve this last part. Interested to hear any other ideas, as I have the same problem with my ds who's now 9. trouble is, he's often awake now till gone 10, but he's knackered in the morning poor sod. I feel bad for him lying there awake night after night.

Oh, when my ds says he's scared (our 2 sound very similar) one trick I've learned is to get him to draw a picture or write down (either what it is that's scaring them , to 'get it out' or alternatively draw or write about something extra nice they are doing/looking forward to, just to draw mind away from 'bad thoughts' and try to calm brain down a bit

hth

Sounds like he just doesn't need to go to bed that early tbh.

My DS is 7 also and goes to bed around 8.30 with aim to be asleep at 9. His natural rythym then seems to be to wake at 8am. Need him awake earlier really so we are aiming to gradually move to 8pm bedtime and sleep by 8.30. (Our added problem is that DS sleeps with me!)

How is he at waking up? What time do you have to get him up, or does he wake naturally?

My dh is 8 and he too goes to bed at 8.30, to sleep at 9.

My trouble is I need my DS to be awake by 6.30 so he can get dressed and eat breakfast before going to the childminder by 7.30am - so I always feel he must be missing out on sleep if he only gets to sleep by 9pm.

Does anyone know how many hours a 7 year old "should" roughly be having?

Well, all kids are different. My doc recommended the following to find out the right level for your child.

You need to pick a week when they don't have to wake up, so during holidays, unless they'd normally be awake in time during school week iyswim.

You simply make a note of what time they fall asleep & what time they wake up for a week (allowing for nautrual asleep & waking). you then work out the average, so add it up and divide by 7 (he recommended 7 days, minimum 5), and that gives you a good and clear idea of how much sleep your child needs.

thats interesting Ernest, I will try that next half term.

Out of interest - if theres anyone still reading! - how much sleep do your 7 yr olds get?

mine gets about 10 hours, but think needs more

As Ernest said, kids are individuals. My ds has always needed less sleep than his 4-yo older sister. He gets up at 6.30 on Mondays and Tuesdays, 7.30 the rest of the week.

This is all very useful - thanks. It's nice to know we're not alone! Was talking to a Mum at school today whose son is exactly the same - in fact he's a friend of DS1's and they're quite similar. She's moved his bed time to 8.00, with lights out at 8.30.
DS1 sleeps from about 9.30 -7 am on average, about 9 to 10 hrs sleep per night. Perhaps I am putting him to bed too early. He wakes easily and isn't grumpy - I just worry about school because he's a dreamy child at the best of times! When bedtimes are more flexible, in the holidays, we have no trouble at all.

When I think about it, I never needed as much sleep as my sister as a child - used to lie awake for ages. So maybe it's an inherited thing - we are very alike.

I'll try the tip about drawing/writing his fears - that might work.

My dd is nearly 7, and she goes to bed at about 8, and reads for a bit, then up at 7ish -she gets about 10/11 hours a night.