Help needed, 7 year old won't go to bed

[onefunkymama]

Hi

We've struggled for years with this and have tried everything we can think of and are fresh out of ideas. So, anyone with a new idea please let me know... Our DS is a VERY active child and he does not settle at bedtime. It doesn't seem to matter what time we put him to bed, he often does not settle and stay in bed for 3 hours. He keeps his sister awake and puts a lot of stress on the family as he becomes more and more hyper. We've already tried (with no luck)

Ignoring
Time out
Warm Baths
Music
Loads of exercise
Removing treats
Telling him off
Talking to him in the morning
Talking to him while he's hyping
Routine
Letting him read

Anyone with any ideas please say!

Poor you :(

Have you tried (and I have no experience of this, yet) reverse psychology? As in "Yep, go to be whenever you like" and seemingly not caring? Then when he's knackered the next day throw in a casual "It's probably because you went to bed at x o'clock. Had you gone at y o'clock you probably WOULD have been able to blah blah. Just saying"

Appreciate this won't help when back at school but it's the best I can come up with. Hopefully someone with a more sensible idea will be along for you.

Sorry "go to beD whenever you like"

Might be worth a try. :)

Do you allow him to sleep late in the morning if he has been up late the night before? (Not judging, btw, just wondering if it might contribute to his not being tired/wanting to sleep.)

Also, have you tried rewarding him if he goes to bed/settles at a reasonable time (rather than punishing him if he doesn't)?

Hi Earlybird
Usually he has to get up for school etc so mostly no, we don't let him stay in bed later in the morning. We've got a star chart where he gets stars for going to bed properly- it worked for a week or so then....

I think I need ideas to help him settle- he's like the blooming Duracell bunny!
:)

Maybe you need to reward him with something more tangible than stars on a chart?

For instance - two weeks of going to bed on time = a trip to the cinema, etc.

Does he underproduce melatonin? If so, then he'll have a horrible time trying to fall asleep (come and look for the melatonin conversations in the special needs area...)