Insomnia in 4 year old

[hunnyhansak]

My ds of 4 years is very good about going to bed and in fact falling asleep on his own. He does however, wake up several times a night, and lies there wide awake. He'll come and sit on the landing outside our bedroom waiting for me to wake up (which I invariably do). I will then either take him back to his bed or invite him into our bed (depending on whether my dd of 2 is there already). The trouble is that he really finds it hard to fall back to sleep. Last night he must have been awake for a couple of hours and then still up before 6am.
He shares a room with his 2 year old sister (who snores!). She also comes to our bed in the night, but at least she goes straight back to sleep.
Does anyone have experience of this. I would really appreciate some advice.

Has he just started school?

Ooh, that was quick CatBert! He just started Nursery. But I doubt that will have much to do with it, because he's always been like this. Although last night was the worst it's been. Unless of course they do a lot of new stuff and his mind is whirring! I can't get anything out of him...

Hmmm. I remember by MIL saying my DH didn't sleep through the night until he started school. He is still a little insomniac now. He has one of those buzzing minds, you know? But I think he needs the "brain" to be exhausted, more than the body IYKWIM.

Perhaps if he copes with less sleep (does he?) then you need to try and explain that if he is awake during the night, this is fine by you, but he needs to stay in his room, and lie quietly, or play with quiet toys on his bed until he goes back to sleep.

Perhaps a star chart might encourage him?

Bless him, he is trying very hard to stay in his own bed. I've tried star charts in the past, and it works for the first 3 nights, and after that he loses interest. He says 'Mummy I have enough stars now'.

Hopefully he'll grow out of it when he gets busy in Nursery/school/university .