9yo Sleep Problems

[BR238]

Hi everyone, I’m at the end of my tether with my age 9 DS. He’s always been a bad sleeper and much to mine and my husband’s fault we’ve always caved in and let him in with us as we both work and can’t be up all night trying to get him to sleep also the knock on effect it has with him being tired for school etc. This past week or so he’s now saying when settling he’s got a headache or feels sick etc. He’s fine during the day and never complains of feeling unwell only ever at bedtime. I get real health anxiety over him (and me!) and it sends me into panic mode even though the rationale side of me thinks it’s all for attention and to not sleep in his room. He is very tired at the moment not helped by being out of routine due to everything going on (we are trying to get back into routine). Has anyone else experienced this? TIA x

similar but different problems at the moment with my 10yo. he was a terrible sleeper as a baby but was fine from about age 2 to age 6 or so. around age 6 he started having anxiety issues and would always need additional attention once or twice during the 90 minutes or so after lights-out before finally settling for various random reasons but would always get there eventually. just these last couple of weeks it has got so much worse and he isn't managing to get to sleep till 23:00 or so.

he is getting daily exercise and sunlight. he isn't having any screens for 2 hours before lights-out and has a very well established routine. he has never been allowed to sleep in our bed. he says he isn't anxious about anything in particular he just can't get his brain to stop being awake. we have tried various children's meditations for relaxation and sleep but nothing seems to help.