my 10 year old is insomniac!

[ElsaB]

I've been through the baby sleep thing with both my children and thought those days were long gone. Now my 10 year old daughter has developed terrible problems getting to sleep and staying asleep. I've tried hot drinks, relaxing baths, reading, staying up later etc. etc. and am at my wits end. If there's anyone out there with a sleepless older child i'd appreciate a chat about how to help them cope!

My 10 year old ds also has trouble getting to sleep and is often awake in the night. I have no idea why except that I was the same at around 10 until I had my ds at the age of 22.

Sometimes I think that the sleepless ness is a result of them maturing, there is a lot going on at 10, they start high school in the next year or 2, they are sorting out thier relationships with thier peers and puberty also starts soon. My ds tends to worry about things as well.

I used to listen to the radio through my headphones when I couldn't sleep when I was younger. I encourage ds to do the same, as it relieves the boredom of lying there trying to sleep and it does make you drowsy. Not loud though just quiet and I would often choose a station with a bit of chat in it instead of music. Or an alternative is those booktapes or cd's you can get.

Is this something you can try with your dd (if you don't already)

Hope things improve.