Not go to bed, but actually settle to sleep....
DD is 6, we have always had big problems with her sleep- she woke alot in the night for the first couple of years, needed lots of support to settle to sleep.
She rarely wakes during the night since the past few years, but bedtimes are a nightmare...she hasn't gone to bed before 9ish other than a handful of occasions for the last couple of years.Sometimes she is up and downstairs saying she can't sleep, she can't just lie there and let herself relax it seems.Sometimes she looks so tired, but just can't seem to switch off.
We have tried cutting down on sugar, giving her fidget toys/books, audio cds (music and stories) getting her up earlier, putting her to bed at different times....nothing has consistently worked.
The last couple of nights her bedtimes have been 10/10.30....when this happens and she has a school day to get through I have to get her up later the next morning to compensate, which then impacts on the next night, making her settle later.
She is awaiting an assessment for potential ADHD, but sometimes I wonder if all the symptoms are overtiredness.
Or maybe it is ADHD that is causing her sleep issues, who knows.It is frustrating for both her and for us.
I just wondered what time your 6 (ish) yo to go to sleep? And wakes up in the morning?
DD on an average night is maybe 9pm-7am.
And what time do you start and finish their bedtimes routine? Maybe ours is too late.
Many thanks!