DS (6) has always had sleep issues. When he was a baby I gave up the fight and we just bed shared. It was what worked at the time. He slept better and so did I. Everyone said I was "creating a rod for my own back", meh, different strokes and all that.

DS has never left my bed. We tried once or twice (okay more) but it never worked. He would end up completely distressed and so would I. I have no support at night btw, so in my bed he has stayed. THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE. (Just thought I better clarify that ) I am of the opinion that when he feels safe and ready he will move into his own bed of his own accord without me distressing both of us.

He has some separation issues. I know this. I've known this for quite some time. School has amplified this. Don't get me wrong he is fine to go to school in the morning, will run off and play happily. Is very social, and when with his daddy on daddy weekends copes fine without me. But afternoons with me, night times, weekends are a whole different ball game. Again I can live with this.

Our issue is the two plus hours it takes him to get to sleep. I'm happy for him to sleep in my bed, if he will just go to sleep!! He won't though. I've tried laying with him, he will just try to get me to engage or keep on talking. Oh the talking! I've tried ignoring him (due to the above this leave us in melt down mode from which there is no return and we should just give up), I've tried routine, routine, routine. Quiet time. Reading actual novels in bed (both with and without pictures). Movies in bed. I've tried reward charts, he gets sad that he won't get the reward but he just keeps on going. Sometimes I will fall asleep before he does Im so exhausted. His behaviour is lacking severely because of this lack of sleep, he would gladly sleep in if I let him. I'm sure we have tried other things as well. He gets up multiple times, never to go to the toilet, just to talk to me (doesn't matter if I ignore him or put him back to bed he keeps on going). Over and over and over.

I'm at the end of my tether. What else can we do?

I am about to buy a mediation book by Maureen Garth and give that a try. What else is there? I don't know what else to do. Its a fight, every. single. night. :'( Has anyone else tried mediation with their bad sleepers? Has it helped?