Ds (age 7) not going to sleep until 11pm

[GettinTrimmer]

He's been like this for a while now.

No tv/distractions in his room, bedtime routine, he goes up later than 7, started taking him up for bath, story, cuddle at 8.30pm, he just lies there are can't go to sleep.

He generally sleeps from 11pm to 8am, a friend suggested waking him earlier, but the thought of him having less than 9 hours sleep is worrying.

He has some rainforest music in his room but makes no difference, last night he woke me up (I was asleep early) at 10.50pm crying, upset at the moment about Pokemon card swaps. Probably did completely the wrong thing last night got into bed with him till he dropped off, this was more like 11.20pm.

Always something he is sensitive about, gets upset and worries. Dd (age 5) fine, goes off no problem.

Thanks in advance for any replies, posted on parenting and nobody answered.

Taught my daughter the alphabet game which I use when I can't sleep. Basically pick a topic such as boys names and run through alphabet thinking up name for each letter. Helps brain to switch off from other troubles.

Am sure you've tried this but my DC have no TV/PC etc after tea @ 5. Also is he too hot? With change in weather we have switched to a summer duvet. We do a similar routine to you then when I leave my DD (8) at 8.30 she reads for 30 mins to an hour. Does he like to read on his own?

Any chance with the weather improving that he could be more active after school to tire him out? MY DD has her best night's sleep after gymnastics and Brownies.

Would agree that waking at 7 am might help but will take a week or 2 to notice the difference.

I wake DS up at 6:30, by 7:30 in the evening he is very tired and falls asleep about nine, the next day he wakes up at 7:30 and we are back in schedule.

I can't get him to be asleep before 9, but we have a non spoken agreement that he is in bed at 8, and as long as he doesn't leave his bedroom he is allowed to read to help him fall asleep.

If I put him to bed earlier than that he only gets bored because he can't sleep anyway, and gets more worked up and therefore... it takes longer. I know someone who puts to bed his son at 6:30, he is asleep by seven but wakes up at 5:30 every single day... I guess some children just need less sleep.

DS1 is a bit like this. He's also 7, has lights out at 8.30pm but can often be awake at 10pm.

He shares a room with 5 year old DS2 who goes to sleep quite quickly.

We wake him for school at 7am everyday but it makes no difference, he just can't go to sleep very early. He does sleep in later at the weekend so I guess gets a bit extra sleep that way but generally we have just accepted it's the way he is.

It's strange for me as I go to bed early and need alot of sleep but DS1 seems to manage on alot less.

Thanks for replies all.

I am thinking of making an appointment to see the GP, asleep at 10.40pm this evening, no pc/tv at all since coming home from school, plenty of wind down time. The only thing I can do is wake him earlier, I leave him to sleep until 8am to get the 9 hours sleep, quickly get ready for school and out the door in the morning.

I know 10 hours is recommended for his age. School don't seem to think he is too tired to work, so wonder if 9 hours is natural for him.

At that age I could be awake until 3 and be up and running at 9, I had a boss who slept only 2 hours at night, he was a genious and was always way more awake than us, and it is also said that Leonardo Da Vinci didn't sleep more than a couple of hours at night so, some people are just like this, and the extra hours they get every day can be put to good use at a later time... provided their mums survive the task!

Just a thought but does he eat sugar after about 5pm -this still keeps me awake as well as tea if I have it later than that. There are flower essences(similar to rescue remedy) that might help -White Chestnut stops thoughts going round and round - or there is a combination called Breathe Deep Seek Peace that is designed to help people who have difficulty sleeping. PM me for more info