7 year old ds - trouble going to sleep, advice needed!!

[GettinTrimmer]

My ds, age 7, is not asleep until 11pm, sometimes even 12. We have a bedtime routine, and a winding down period before bed, we have tried putting some relaxing music on as well at bedtime, but he can't tune out.

He gets upset about not being able to drop off and calls down the stairs for cuddles, and cries when he thinks the night isn't going to end if he doesn't go to sleep, and worries about me going to sleep before him.

I don't think he is anxious about anything at bedtime, no worries keeping him awake as far as I know.

He doesn't have a TV in his room/computer to distract him from sleep either.

Does anyone have the same problem? Would appreciate any advice.

I also have a 7 year old DS.

Maybe he has something on his mind?

When my DS can't sleep its usually something on his mind, it could be something someone said to him, or something he heard on tv, etc.

Sometimes, he thinks he will get bad dreams, other times he is just thinking of things, and they are going around and around in his head.

I usually sit one on one, and let him talk about anything really, and eventually he gets to the thing he is really worried about, and talking usually makes it better