DS (7) finding it hard to fall asleep

[MumOf2Here]

DS is now 7 and is finding it hard to fall asleep at bedtime. Once he is asleep he is fine and will usually stay asleep, but getting him to sleep is getting extremely tiresome. Its hard to get him up for school and we are late most days because of this.

When he was younger he used to say “hes missing out on all the fun” and this is the reason he doesnt want to sleep! He now knows nothing exciting happens once he’s asleep however he still doesnt sleep easily.

He wants to play games, wants his dads attention, wants to watch videos or read a story or 3! Finally when lights are out, hes tossing and turning. I’ve even been keeping him in my bed in hope of him falling asleep quicker, but thats no good either.

I brought him upto bed today at 8.45pm and he has only just fallen asleep (10.10pm). He fell asleep and woke up twice and fell back asleep. When i asked him why he isn’t sleeping, he said he doesn’t know he just keeps waking up.

He does watch tv sometimes before bed, so we are going to be switching screens off an hour or so before bed and make sure there are no sugary snacks before bed. His dad usually does bedtime with him and more often than not falls asleep on the spare bed in his room. So he isn’t scared of sleep, he doesn’t have nightmares and is ok being in his room as his dad is usually there anyway.

Does anyone have any advice or gone through anything similar?

Thank you xx

8.45pm seems an awfully late bedtime for a 7 year old? Are you putting him to bed so late in the hope he’ll be tired out by then, or is it just part of your domestic routine? Is he eating quite late, too?

And until now he’s been watching TV before bed? I’d really look to getting him to bed a good hour earlier - with no gaming or TV or anything stimulating for two hours beforehand.

It may also be that there’s something going on at school that’s over stimulated or disturbed him. A big change, or a new idea, or friendship issues. You’d have to find out.

Two more things come to mind, as well as those mentioned above...

Is your child having ANY caffeine during the afternoon and evening? Including chocolate chips in cookies, chocolate in any form? Some people are very sensitive to it - I would cut all all chocolate (and obviously any fizzy drinks like Coke) completely.

Have you tried supplementing with Magnesium? I was just reading yesterday that a lot of children are deficient. The Floradix Magnesium liquid is great, tastes like a juice and helped my hyperactive children to get to sleep when they were younger.

Hi thank you for taking the time to post. He is usually upstairs by around 8pm however as you said, we hope he just tires himself out and leave him downstairs recently, as going up by 8pm is useless as its another drama once we get him up the stairs.
He does watch tv occasionally before bed, however we are stopping screen time and allowing him a board game or cards or something to play a few hours before that doesnt involve screens and something quite easy and quick like snakes and ladders. He will also ask for a snack before bed which i feel spikes his sugar levels.

He in year 2 and i know they were doing their y2 sats. He woke up this morning and said he had a dream he only did 2 questions on the paper and found it quite funny, but i think it played on his mind and maybe another reason he hasnt been switching off. Thankfully they are over and done with.

In terms of chocolate, I usually give them a treat after school like a sweet or something to have before or mainly after their tea but thats it really. Sometimes they’ll have an ice lolly on the warmer days. He does like nutella on toast whch my husband makes him as a snack here and there but i feel he shouldn’t be having that in the evening as again, just spikes their sugar levels.

I think I will try everything you have suggested and stay consistent and see if it makes a difference, and if not, i’ll give the magnesium a try. I did read up on it after i read your post and read it really helps with sleep! but will try this as a last resort.

Thank you so much xx

Possibly he is overstimulated before he goes to bed, some children just fall asleep because they are tired but others till have their brains whirring away causing restlessness and a difficulty in switching off.

If he will drink it, Camomile tea is a relaxing drink as long as it’s an hour before bedtime so he can pee before he goes to sleep!

Blackout curtains, an uncluttered bedroom, the right temperature are all things to be considered.

The last hour before bedtime should be very relaxing and nothing stimulating.

I definitely need black out curtains in the room as its still broad daylight when we take the kids upstairs ! I agree, definitely overstimulated and i will look i to the tea! This also made me remember horlicks drinks. Womder if they’re any good. Will have a look into them. thank you so much xx

Having a bedtime routine has always helped us - gives a clear sign to body/brain that bedtime is coming! Bath, pyjamas, teeth and a book.

Agree with PPs that a dark room is a must in summer - I always put the blind down, close the curtains and turn on a lamp before my child comes up to bed so the bedroom looks cosy, dim and bedtime-like even at 8pm mid summer.

I'd definitely try no screens or food for at least an hour before bed. My child usually falls asleep quickly but if he does have difficulty, he likes to listen to his yoto radio (which is bedtime relaxing music in evening).

With your update about the daylight in the room, I would definitely use a blackout blind. The Tommee Tippee one is good and makes the room pitch black! I've just bought a couple of Amazon for a weekend away in an Airbnb as there is no way I can risk the bedroom not having blackout curtains!

My ds is 9 we start bath/book /bed at 8 and usually it’s lights out at 830. He sometimes takes a bit of time to fall asleep but is generally asleep by 9. Try to have a repetitive ned time routine as it triggers the body clock that it’s sleep time. No screens an hour before bed, make that hour relaxing as possible. Don’t put him to bed later in the hope he’s more tired, he will be overtired and it’s harder to fall asleep, try to stick to same time ever night.

in terms of falling asleep the thing that works best for my son is counting something (often mario related)

Thank you all for your posts, really appreciate it.

I have ordered some blackout blinds from amazon this morning and will stick to the bath, book and bed routine as closely as i can whilst avoiding screens and snacks a couple hours before bed.

Hopefully these will all help! thank you so much, i’ll let you know how we get on. x