Sleep out of kilter

[DesperateADHDMum]

Hi. My 16yo son has turned nocturnal - stays up until 4/5am and then it’s a struggle to get him out of bed before midday - if we are very lucky.

I’ve been trying to get him out of bed early to try and reset his body clock but he’s not having it. Not helped by me finding him eating a meal at 1am sometimes.

it’s making me tired too because I’m a light sleeper!

He’s very oppositional at the moment so it’s difficult but we need to sort this out before school in September! Any advice gratefully received!

I know the jaded feeling!!

I’ll sit him down again and see if I can get him to come up with a plan so he doesn’t feel I’m telling him. It just breaks my heart that he is so sad about school but doesn’t seem able to see where he can help himself and I desperately want the new school to work for him

Hey op so this is seriously dysfunctional sleep patterns not just usual late nights. And probably nade worse by screens late at night.

I believe the solution for this that Ive read is to actually go thr opposite way so instead of trying to go to be early he completely skips his sleep one night. Then he begins a more normal bedtime.

I think you would have to really work on the screen relationship as thst will be really impacting it.

Im sure withoit screens he would be bored soon enough and in bed earlier

Totally understand the oppositional issue as have a child like that myself !

Interesting idea about staying up- he did that before one of his exams and was there early and said he felt he performed better than in his other exams. He then fell asleep as soon as he got home though so undid the good work. Might be worth a try though!

He’s not on screens too much compared to my other one - and he has no internet access after 10/11