I know this is done to death but I really need some help.
DS1 has never gone to bed well, we have periods of going well and then it all goes pear shaped again.
I know I know that it is a power struggle with him but I am run ragged by it. I can't cope anymore and I know my stress is fuelling the situation.
DS is a lovely boy but it is almost like a switch goes off after 6pm. He suddenly almost becomes hyper active. Bouncing around, running, leaping on furniture, throwing himself to the ground. It is a struggle to get through bathtime and story time but eventually he calms down enough to sit and listen to stories in his bed. We have stories and then a few songs - which he has to lie nicely for or I stop.
But then he just won't go to bed. He gets up and down, plays with his toy, jumps on the bed, climbs on the windowsill. REcently he's taken to sitting on the loo for ages. Anything to not go to bed. He is so tired and so sleep deprived - you can see it in his eyes but often it's nearly 10pm by the time he eventually falls asleep.
It's a vicious circle as the more tired he becomes day by day, the more hyperactive he becomes during the day.
He's very intelligent (I think) and articulate so I have spoken to him about it in the morning. He says that sleep is boring and he's not tired.
I've tried everything. Sticker charts, rapid return the lot. We've always had a consistent bedtime but I think the problem is that this has become so engrained in the routine this is just what we do now.
He's gone back to wetting the bed recently too and I'm convinced it's because he' so tired that he is just passing out into such a deep sleep.
He starts school in September and desperately needs his sleep.