dd17 .. sleep ... getting up ...help!

[fishhavefeelingstoo]

Dd17 is always tired, now diagnosed with light iron deficiency, not anaemic yet, possibly gilberts syndrome, she's having another blood test in two weeks. But she's tired mostly because she doesn't sleep enough. She uses her phone as an alarm and also to fall asleep to .. podcasts. She's sometimes depressed, anxious.

I don't want to take her phone away even if I could because she says it helps her sleep, I've talked to her about screen time, regular bed times, coffee etc, but she's being a teen ... I know nothing, she knows best .... She gets herself up, but late, missing registration, no time for breakfast, rushing out. I don't want to treat her like a young child, especially as she'll be at uni next year, when she'll need to be able to look after herself.

I'm tired of repeating myself.

Any tips that have helped with bedtime and sleep? Or do I just leave her to it?

She's reasonably healthy and now taking iron, she's vegetarian, probably lactose intolerant (testing is on our list but there are other things to sort first), but has lactose free yogurts, fruit, takes a daily multivitamin. Her diet isn't hugely varied, lots of pasta, bagels with soft cheese.

She's tall and thin but not underweight, similar to myself at that age but a couple of inches taller.

I can understand your reluctance to take her phone from her but have you tried turning the WiFi off at a reasonable time?

Her diet does sound a little restricted. We recently had to make some changes to our DSs diet and I found this guide from the Caroline Walker Trust hugely helpful.

I tend to watch a lot on my pc so turning the Wi-Fi off would be inconvenient but also have tried this in the past but she listens to podcasts etc on YouTube so kicks up a fuss if I turn it off.

You can turn off WiFi to certain devices.

DD1 has Gilbert’s, is underweight but that’s just her natural build. Healthyish reasonable diet and gyms a few times a week, all about the core and her abs so no excessive running on treadmills.
She gets herself up fine but naps quite a lot.
Her snapchat was full of tired pics at 2:47 with a wtf am I awake comments, I have given up trying to get her to see not picking her phone up to take selfies would help with her sleep.
She has a big data allowance on her phone so switching WiFi off not a solution.
Tried taking phone off her, she kept radio on Classic FM helps her sleep 😂 but kept sleeping through the alarm.
Decided she was managing it and whilst naps weren’t the best idea I’d leave her to it.

Like you say she’ll have to do it herself next year so you can try and wean her off the phone use a little whilst you still have some control. Hopefully she’ll develop better habits.

We were told Gilbert’s had very few actual symptoms but tiredness does seem to be one of them, cutting out stress if possible did help her somewhat, using relaxation techniques etc, especially in the evening.
She does sleep better than she did and uses her phone la bit less.

I realise the irony of me posting at this time but I have a heavy cold I’d normally be sound asleep as I love my bed.

dd is definitely NOT into exercise, I'm glad she walks 15 mins to school so at least gets a little exercise!

I've recommended lots of meditation apps etc for relaxation, but she doesn't use them, could be a bit of "parents know nothing" going on, not sure.

I'll try and get more healthy food into her diet. She's very limited in what she'll eat and doesn't cook, tends to eat in her room when she feels like it. I've bought her vegetarian cook books but at the moment she won't cook.