7 year old sleep issues

[user1471508872]

I am completely fed up. My 7 year old has never been a good sleeper. When she was younger it wasn’t too much of an issue as she would usually be asleep by around 8 which didn’t affect the rest of the family. It also didn’t affect her at nursery/school.

however now she is 7 the problems are bigger. She can still be up messing around until after 10pm at night. This stops her brother from going to bed on time and means I am getting 0 time to do anything else as by the time she has settled and I get the other kids into bed it’s time for me to go to bed ready for work. Tiredness is now also affecting her at school.

if some miracle happens and she falls asleep at a fairly decent time (between 8-9) she will be ip
from 4.30am.

I have tried everything possible myself to get her to sleep without success.

I finally had enough and spoke to the GP last week regarding her sleep who was fab and she wrote to CYPS to request a prescription for melatonin for her. However they have now wrote back and said unless my daughter is already in their system or has a diagnosis of ASD/ADHD they will not prescribe melatonin as they don’t deal with sleep problems. The GP did suggest piriton but this has zero affect on her. The GP doesn’t suspect any ADHD/ASD.

I just don’t know what to do anymore, her issues with sleep are affecting my other children’s sleep and it’s starting to take a toll on my mental health. If anybody has any suggestions I’d be really grateful although I fear I’ve already tried everything.

Hey, I don't have suggestion's- what's her wind down routine like? Is it worth sending her to bed earlier and let her mess about a while until she wears herself out ?

maybe she doesn't need as much sleep as other 7 year olds? If she shares a room, would she be happy reading quietly in bed (mine likes comics) until 10ish? at least then it'd be restful and quiet for her even if she doesn't sleep. Or could she stay with you until 10ish doing something quiet like colouring? so she isn't disturbing anyone else?
My just turned 8 year old can be up sometimes til 9 or 10- later at the weekends, but I make it reeeally boring downstairs- she can't have her tablet past a certain time (she can't sleep for hours if she's been on it!), 'boring' adult tv on, she'll read or draw pictures or do lego and then go to bed.

Comes in from the childminder, has a snack, warm bath, gets her pjs on and then goes up to her room, she’s allowed to choose something to do, she usually either reads, draws or watches tv for a bit. It makes no difference what she chooses to do on how long it takes her to go to sleep. She’s on the go constantly and she is tired she just can’t get to sleep. She actually got upset the other day because she was like I really try to go to sleep I just can’t.

She definitely needs the sleep. Her tiredness affects her attitude and behaviour at home and school have also noticed her struggling with tiredness. She doesn’t share a room. She chooses something to do and then lights off at 7:30. From there it’s the never ending up and down and messing around. She will go quiet for a while and you think she’s settled and then next thing she appears again. I’ve spoke to her about it and she got quite upset and said she want to go to sleep and she really tries to go to sleep but she just can’t.

user1471508872 did you find a way to resolve this? I’m having similar issue with my daughter. We’re both exhausted and even when she does fall asleep (at any time between 8 and 11) she’s in my bed by morning.