12 yr old ds waking in the night

[IDismyname]

Ds, aged 12, has woken up around 2am for the last 3 nights and has been unable to get back to sleep; he has his first mock set of Common Entrance exams on Monday, so it is understandable. However, having followed all the pre sleep routine (I even read a chapter of his book to him after his bath) last night, he has woken me again.

We have a weekend of revision ahead of us; because he has a short term memory problem, we have to start gently revising at half term, and continue along the "gently" lines through to the exams. Its a formula that he finds comfortable and he feels in control and calm - so he tells me.

I hate this situation. Its 3am, and I got cross with him having been very calm for the last 3 nights.
I really don't know what to do. He tells me that there is nothing specific bothering him (other than exams).

Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I dose him up on something? I cannot make the problem go away and if he goes on like this, he'll be a fumbling wreck on Monday! (I have already reached "fumbling wreck" status!)

I wouldn't expect my 12 year old to wake me up in the night unless they were very frightened ( heard something outside or a nightmare) or ill. Maybe suggest he puts a low wattage lamp on, read for a while until he feels sleepy again, or get some relaxing music or talking book type Cd to listen to quietly.
I understand that he is stressed with exams coming up. Perhaps plan to do something physical this weekend to fit in with the revision so that by bedtime he's physically tired as well as exhaused from the cramming. Can't recommend dosing an other wise health child up though .
Hope tonight is better for you both, good luck to him for Monday.

Agree - you should not be up at 3am!!
Let him read quietly, or try a sleep sound - there are some free ones here:

easysleepmusic.com/

10 yr old ds quite often wakes in the night. We have told him he can turn a story cd on quietly and put a light on if he feels he needs to but he is not to disturb anyone unless he really needs to. Works well.