How can i get my year 2 to get more sleep?

[yellowparrot]

I have a just 7 year ds who is in year 2. He is happy at school, never seems stressed. I am a bit concerned that he cannot seem to switch off and get to sleep at bed time. In general, he gets into bed at about 7.30. We read to him, he reads to us then we leave him reading his book until about 8.30 when i turn his light off. Recently, i have noticed he is still tossing and turning at 9.30, sometimes 10. We then have to wake him every morning to get ready for school. Surely he is not getting enouygh sleep. I don't know how i could make him go to sleep earlier. Suggestions very welcome. By the way, he walks to and from school and cycles and goes for long walks at the weekend, but apart from that and P.E. does little exercise mainly because it is not his thing.

My dd likewise is in pj and upstairs for 7:30, but is often still awake at 9, and maybe once a week til 10. She does tend to wake herself about 7:30. She likewise walks to school etc, afterschool activities 3 times a week, but doesn't seem to need as much sleep. Sometimes though she seems to go to sleep quickly, so I guess she self-regulates, but it is annoying, especially when we are tired and want to sleep. I have occassionally just told her we are going to bed and turned all the lights off, that usually works!

Thanks 3duracellbunnies. It is reassuring to know we are not alone. I feel i am letting him down in some way by him not getting to sleep earlier. It seems like all his peers sleep for 12 hours a night! However, he does seem to function pretty well during the day and doesn't often look tired so maybe he really doesn't need as much sleep as i think he should have.

Is he tired? No? Then he's getting enough sleep! Why not try letting him go to bed later or read a little longer- maybe til 9.00. Maybe he's just not ready to sleep at 8.30.

I am sure you are right seeker. It just feels wrong to let him stay up late!

I think it gets easier to wake up in the morning once it starts getting light earlier.

My younger 2 children have slept 10 hours a night since Reception and are cheerful kids so I think it's fine. (Oldest needs a full 11 hours even at age 10)

You could try playing audio cds very quietly once he's ready to snuggle down. There are some lovely relaxation/meditation ones. Even if he doesn't sleep he will be resting which is the next best thing. It might relax him enough that he drifts off. Also, perhaps a little drop of lavender on the pillowcase, or relax in a lavender scented bath just before bed.

We are trying the same with our 6.5 yr-old. We finish stories around 8, but she is usually awake after 9 - last night it was 11 and I am really keen to do something about it.

We have had some success with a kids meditation CD but she is still often awake at the end.

She can be VERY grumpy in the morning - but otherwise seems fine. I think she looks tired though. I think she should be asleep by 9 but not sure how to do it. I don't know if she should just stay up later - sometimes I have found that just shifts everything later still....

My ds has never slept 12 hours - not even when a baby. He nearly 7 now. Sleeps from 9.30pm to 8am (approx) Like you we did worry and tried everything from fresh air, exercise to putting him up in bed earlier etc etc... but none of this worked. Earlier we put him to bed the earlier he would be up next morning. We don't worry about it any more.
As long as the child not complaining they tired all the time or school reporting any concerns in this area then don't worry.

My 5 1/12 year old is still awake. He usually wakes naturally at between 6.30 and 7.30am. I just think he doesn't need that much sleep. He's very very tall maybe that has something to do with it - 130cm at last measure.
He hasn't got it off me - I need loads of sleep!

If he's not obviously tired I wouldn't worry about it. They are all different. However, if you have to wake him then maybe I'd try tweaking the routine a little. I would put him to bed a bit later, say 8, but then still have lights out at 8.30- maybe an hour in bed before actually sleeping is a bit much and not setting the idea of bed=sleep?

Or could you try the bit before he reads his own book not in his bed? Worth a tweak to see if anything like that helps? My nephew who is nearly 8 (Yr3) would do stories downstairs (being read to and reading himself), a bit of telly and then have a short bedtime routine upstairs to say good night- generally in bed around 8/8.30 then he would wake up full of beans at 6.30/7. This was over christmas so a bit different but think that's what they do during school too.