Getting older children to sleep

[absolutelyknackeredcow]

Help please
9 year old has always struggles and now with no school virtually impossible.
We have tried
Reading
Not reading
Reading in bed
Reading out of bed
Cuddles
No cuddles
Nothing works
Anyone got a suggestion for an app or similar that works

I wonder if you've come across this sleep foundation place - helped me get mine off to sleep, by doing a combination of things - a while back now. I found that no screen time after 6pm was what did it. Also, into pyjamas earlier, and evening meal earlier as well. Reading for himself seemed to tire out his eyes. I got him to read to me, and didn't correct anything, just smiled at the bits he liked of the story.
www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/sleep-strategies-kids
See if anything they suggest works for you. It is knackering, I know.

Have you tried audio books. The calm app has good audio books and there are some free audio books on podcast. Helped my son to settle as he had something to listen to but could lay with eyes closed listening to the story.

Other things I found helped mine when he was struggling (as he does on and off) is outside time as early as we can after waking, finishing screen time a while before bed and magnesium in vitamins or salts for the bath (helped with restless legs).

It’s all a bit hit and miss isn’t it!

What part of bedtime is he struggling with. Actually falling asleep or staying alone etc?

Mine needs help winding down ready to sleep, she's really embraced the Headspace App and we often listen to a sleep meditation or sleep cast it really helps her switch off for the day but I do appreciate its horses for courses - good luck!

Is he getting enough exercise through the day and what time does he wake up?

Agree with starting bedtime earlier and no screens etc for a long time before bed. I found with one of ours if we started bedtime too late all was lost. So he went up to bed very early and read for an hour to an hour and a half. Also didn't get cross if he couldn't sleep so he didn't get stressed about not being able to sleep.

My DD is 8 and is similarly tricky to get off to sleep, especially now with less stimulation by being at home the whole time. Things we do which sometimes work are:

• exercise and fresh air everyday
• no screens after 6pm
• no sugar after dinner only fruit
• heading upstairs to get ready for bed quite early but taking our time to faff and do teeth and chat and get into pyjamas so she doesn't feel rushed
• electric essential oils humidifier with lavender in her bedroom
• we play cards and top trumps
• we do colouring together
• she listens to audio books
• we read a bit together then she reads on her own and is responsible for turning off her own lights
• black out curtains and blinds

Some nights none of that works and she's wandering around still at 10pm asking for drinks and complaining of phantom illnesses and other nights we don't hear from her and she sorts herself out off to sleep ok. Like others have said it can be hit and miss but sticking to a routine, taking our time, keeping it chilled and almost boring and giving her a bit of control but making it clear we can't hang about all evening and have our own things to get on with seems to help. sometimes

My 10 year old dd is similar. It’s harder as you say, with no school as they’re less tired. Have found audible (audio books) helpful as there is option to slow down the speed of the narration, which sometimes makes her a bit sleepier. Have you seen the Elaine Martin Sleep hypnoses on YouTube? My dd hated them, but sometimes when she was younger and awake late, would listen to them and would drop off fairly quickly