Hi there. I am new to this site but have found some wonderful topics already so I'd be grateful for some help on this one.
My 7 year old DS has been waking in the night and staying awake for up to 3 hours, stating he simply can't get back to sleep. We first considered this to be a bout of insomnia and assumed it would pass. However for the last 3 nights this has happened at his bedtime too. He is now showing severe anxiety at his bedtime and is worried about his night wakings happening, to such an extent that he gets in a hysterical state before even dropping off to sleep.
So for the last few nights DS has fallen asleep (finally in our bed) with either myself or his dad beside him at 10.30/11pm. With school the next day, this is obviously something we want to calm ASAP. He continues to have his awake period in the night, although with reassurance from us that we are there and giving him a cuddle, he will drop back off quicker.
If I'm honest, this has been getting gradually worse since Halloween, when he was told ghost stories at a party (!!?). Pretty unsuitable for 5 - 7 years olds I have to say :(. DS says there is nothing worrying him/wrong at school/frightening him etc but this may be manifesting itself in his subconscious and appearing as a night anxiety only.
So DH and myself are trying our hardest to convince him there is nothing to be afraid of, lying with him, reassuring him, stroking his head etc. All measures to keep him as calm as possible. He is now coming up with every excuse under the sun to keep getting out of bed (36 times last night) and we have had: - my tummy feels funny/throat feels funny/chest feels funny/ my legs are too hot but my arms are too cold.......etc. All obvious excuses from a 7 year old child but they are becoming increasingly tiresome as he won't stay in bed for more than 5 mins or even try to relax enough to sleep.
In DS's ideal world, I think he would like to be in our bed, at his normal bedtime, with either myself or DH sleeping beside him at 8pm. We do lie beside him hoping he will drop off but he stays awake in the knowledge we will go downstairs once he sleeps! This is obviously not something we want to encourage and I don't want to be in bed at 8 pm. As it is, DH and I only have about 2 hours of adult time each evening to chat/watch tv/relax etc. I hope this doesn't sound selfish.
Can anyone offer any other advice? There are no other changes happening at home. He has a comfortable and happy homelife, school is going well, he has many friends. He was a very spirited baby and is still so, to a certain extent, with a very vivid imagination and boundless energy.
Sorry this post is so long but I wanted to try to paint the full picture
Many thanks, A