6 year old won’t go to sleep

[FridayFunday]

My 6 year old DS has been messing around at night for a few months now. Until then he’d been brilliant at going to bed since being a baby. He will come out of his room, wander round the house hiding/ taking his sister’s stuff etc. I’ve tried silently returning him to his room each time so he gets no reaction but he gets angry and starts hitting and fighting me. I’m currently sitting outside his room to intercept him and he keeps coming out and throwing his duvet over me. He has such a strong will. Has anyone else overcome this? I really thought the silent returning would work but it doesn’t. I’m exhausted as work school hours then have no evening support from partner so this is taking the only ‘down time’ I have.

Pre bedtime routine is dinner/ shower/ story/ cuddles/ sleep at 7pm. No screens etc. I am at my wits end- please help!

That sounds exhausting and frustrating

What time does he wake up in the morning?

It seems like quite an early bedtime for a 6 year old. My almost 6 year old goes to bed at 8, and is usually asleep by 8:30. She wakes up around 6:30 - 7.

Maybe he isn't tired enough to sleep at 7, hence the messing around...? I'd try a later bedtime and see if that helps.

It’s too early that’s why. The thing they don’t tell you about parenthood is that evening downtime doesn’t exist once they get older. I also work school hours and I don’t have a partner. It’s exhausting. My 8 year old goes to bed at 8.30 and sleep for 9. She gets 10-11 hrs a night which is fine.

Wow that seems quite an early bedtime. My 2 1/2 year is in bed at 7.30. I'd say try putting him to bed later so he's actually really tired.

I'd try pushing his bedtime back an hour and see if that helps! My 3 year old sleeps 8pm-7am and that is plenty for him.