4 year old can't switch off at night to sleep

[Deleted User]

But then the 7pm ish bed time gradually fades away over the next few years. My neices since the ages of about 8 or 9 go to bed 9pm on a school night as they don't need the sleep. I think i'd be saying upstairs by 8pm and time in your room, but hey ho. Different strokes for different folks.

I remember being in last year at primary and my bedtime was 8.30pm and didn't go up to 9pm till i was 14 (insert hair raising smilie).

rev229

My kids are 14 and 12. Both on the autistic spectrum lights on all night neither of them sleep!! They may be in PJ's and bedrooms early evening (their choice) but sleep..no!

MadDogWoman_2

Hi,

I have a DD who is 4 and starts school in September.

I have just adapted our bedtime routine to suit her changing needs.

7pm - bath/shower if required, not everynight as it drys her skin.
7.15 - Clean teeth
7.20 - get dry, moisturised PJ's on
7.25 - Into bed, read 2 stories of her choosing
7.40 - Tell her that she has 15 minutes to read her books, then I'll be coming up with a drink then it's sleep time.
7.55 - Go up with a drink, she lies down, I tuck her in, put her music on low if she asks and leave her.
8.00 - Fast asleep.

I've implemented this routine using a sticker chart which she loves. She knows exactly where she is up to and what her reward is going to be.

Week 1 - Tea at Pizza Hut
Completing 2 weeks = a trip to the cinema.

RazWaz

Take any interesting things out of his room so there is nothing making him want to stay up. I never really believed it would work until I tried it on myself and it really made a difference.

I've been ill a lot lately so I set up an old TV and games console in my bedroom to give me something to do when I'm bored stuck in bed, and I've found it much harder to sleep when bored, as I keep thinking, wellll I could just turn it on and play for 5 mins... Even if I don't turn it on, the thoughts still affect me and keep me awake longer so I'll be getting rid once I'm feeling better. My bedroom (apart from the temporary tv now) had nothing in it but my bed and a bottle of water for the last 2 years and I've been sleeping so much better than I ever did in the past.

It's going to be a lot harder for a young child to be disciplined enough to ignore everything in the room and want to play so take the distractions away.

barbiedoll

It's always hard to get kids to sleep at their usual bedtime when the evenings are so much lighter. Even blackout curtains don't stop the noises outside and a lot of light seeps in through the top and bottom of the curtains anyway.

Still.....if he's quite happy to be sitting up and reading for an hour at bedtime, it's not such a bad habit to get him into. He clearly enjoys his books and as any reader will tell you, a good book at bedtime is a great way to get off to sleep! As long as he's not too tired in the mornings then why not?

I also agree with the poster who said about the sleep "window". My DS would get very grumpy if he didn't get to sleep on time, but he would find it very hard to settle if he went to bed too late. You could try putting him to bed a little earlier but be warned....he may have you up and out of bed at silly o'clock the next morning! :eek:

building_with_lego

I've said this many times before: homeopathic coffee- called Coffea 6c. (I know homeopathy only works as well as placebo but, frankly, it works for me and with the regularity I need it I'd rather take a sugar pill than any tranquiliser ). It's safe for children, and the theory is that coffee makes your mind race, therefore when your mind's racing take coffea and it'll chill you out.
Edit: I've just found the following...
Coffea - For sleeplessness and physical restlessness when the mind churns over with thoughts of the day's happenings. Because the mind seems so alert sleep is difficult and when it does occur, is often light and easily interrupted.
Nux vom. – Insomnia due to mental over-activity. There is anger at being unable to go to sleep.
...on the Boots site.
http://www.boots.com/wcsstore/cmsassets/Boots/Content/Products/Homoeopathy%20-%20CAT:%20A00000517/10008234.P/add_leaf.pdf Can't find them selling it any more, though Google is your friend.
I find that my Titch (almost 4 and starting school in September) has the occasional night when he just can't drop off. This seems to help.