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Sleep

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Ah, the age old question - sleep and bedtimes for a 6yo?

5 replies

JesusInACabbageVan · 23/05/2012 21:01

Having huge amount of trouble with DS1s sleep. He goes to bed at about 7.45pm, reads in bed for between ten and twenty minutes, then dim light and story on cd player. He gets up at about 7.30am.

He doesn't seem to be able to get to sleep though - last night he came downstairs at 10pm still complaining of not being able to sleep. He's relentlessly grumpy and horrid in the morning, but I can't think of how to get him to sleep.

He's never had trouble before - always been a fall asleep anywhere type, but for the last six months it's just got worse.

He says he can't help thinking about bad things. He has a story on his CD player and a nightlight, and we've tried suggesting deep breathing, thinking about funny films, cuddles etc etc. He can't tell us what bad things. He gets very negative about all our suggestions, saying he can't do it and he just can't help thinking about bad things. Sad

He goes to school then after school club or home for tea. No mid week activities, just swimming on Saturdays. He runs about like a madman at playtime.

What time do your 6yos go to bed? And has anyone had this issue and found any useful tips?

OP posts:
JesusInACabbageVan · 24/05/2012 09:48

bump.

OP posts:
exexe · 24/05/2012 09:54

I send my ds1 (who has just turned 7) to bed at 8 but he doesn't seem to go to sleep til 9. He wakes up fine (7am on 2 days of the week, 7.45 on the others)
He's totally fine in the day and doesn't seem to be tired so I'm sure he's getting enough sleep.

exexe · 24/05/2012 09:57

You could try sending him up a bit later. Do you read to him or spend time with him helping him to wind down?
Does he watch tv in the evening? I had to stop the tv on weekdays (except fridays) as it was making both my ds into total pains plus they were having nightmares (from Ben 10!)

JesusInACabbageVan · 24/05/2012 13:23

We do read to him - he has one story or chapter from us and then his own reading time. We could try cutting out TV - he has started watching older kid stuff that seems to feature lots of fighting and explosions (ben10 and kung fu dino posse etc) so that probably doesn't help with the bad things!

I was wondering about sending him to bed later - letting him stay up after his brother has gone to bed as long as he's playing quietly, that sort of thing.

OP posts:
WowOoo · 24/05/2012 13:27

Ds has been driving me up the wall recently.
He goes to bed at 7:30 after stories and then seems to muck about.

He listens to relaxing music or a story CD. He never watches TV in the evnings any more - just doesn't want to.

i don't really know if he gets enough sleep ( I could still hear him at 8:45 last night) but he always seems to have plenty of energy.

Perhaps I'll try a later bedtime.

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