Hello new here and a q about insomnia in children

[NK5c74826eX126faefc14d]

Hi, I'm new to this site. I have 3 girls aged 8.5, 7 and 3.

I am having problems with my oldest dd. She just can't get to sleep at night until really late and subsequently I can't get her up for school in the morning. She sometimes comes down saying she can't sleep, sometimes there are tears and she can't tell us what's wrong. She's not falling asleep till after 10pm but last night it was midnight

I'm very worried because I know how important sleep is for children. I'm torn between feeling sorry for her being genuinely not able to fall asleep, or being firm thinking it's a behaviourial thing (ie she may enjoy the attention).

Other than that she is happy and healthy, doing well at school and enjoys her friends and activities etc. I have spoken to the school in case there is anything there - there isn't and as far as I can see there isn't anything bothering her (apart from not being able to fall asleep!).

Does anyone have any advice? Thanks.

What time does she need to be up for school?

FWIW, I usually went to sleep past 11pm and was up about 7am all of my childhood, I managed okay. I used to sleep in on weekends to make up for it. I have been a lifetime insomniac, mostly I was fine (except when I had children, but that's another problem!) My mother swears my only sleep was 11pm-5am when I was age 2-5: My dad stayed up with me at night, and my mother was a natural early riser, that's how they coped.

Other than being difficult to wake in the mornings, I'm not sure that Ur DD has a problem.

Hi NK5c . . .

Your thread was ages ago but is totally apt for the evening experience in our house too. Please tell me that your DDs sleep problems sorted themselves out. My 9yr old DS is having very similar troubles. He gets himself very wound up and comes back down in tears after just a couple of minutes trying. We calm him and his brother down a good 40 mins before lights out with story and a cuddle. My husband and I have no evening and, like you, veer between nurturing and comforting to frustrated and anxious. Grrr.

Can others help too?

Thanks.