O DD5 started her first year of big school this year and we have had nothing but troubles with getting her to sleep at night. Our routine has not changed, before school started she would be asleep at 7:30pm at the very latest.
It seems she can't switch of her brain, we talk about her day whic ph she isn't having any troubles with but she is driving me crazy not going to sleep as she is then tid an cranky the next day. I have removed all treats from her such as her once a week money for a ice block from the canteen, no cartoons in the morning, she wasn't allowed to have her lolly after swimming today, I have removed what little. Junk food she ate.
So I need all your natural sleep aids,I have tried rescue remedy the last three nights and it hasn't made any difference.
I wonder if some melatonin might help. I'm not sure if its available over the counter or if you need a script.
Have you considered some meditation or relaxation techniques?
This is a beautiful bedtime ritual that children often love.
I have numerous friends with the same problem! One tonight downloaded a kids meditation podcast for her daughter to listen to on the iPad, worked a treat for her
Melatonin isn't something that a GP/pead will give out for this sort of thing. I use it with my 10 yr old but he has a sleep disorder. From what I hear the over counter stuff isn't that effective.
I would try removing screen time at least an hour or 2 before bed. Dimming lights etc. Remove all external stimuli (TV, Lights) as much as you can. A nice relaxing bath, some lavender in her room maybe. You could try the rescue remedy "Sleep" drops you can get from the healthfood/chemist. We have used that at times with the kids. I can't say if it has helped really but its worth a shot.
I would then look for a good relaxation/meditation she can learn. I would maybe start off with getting her to put her thoughts in a "box" to talk about in the morning. If she can remove them from her head (imagination wise, it doesn't need to be a real box) then she may find it easier to switch off knowing she can come back to those thoughts tomorrow.
Thanks for you hints everyone. Efjay no tv or screen time after school for us either outside playing or today she had swimming. Our routi e has been fine its just now all the things she has to think about. I am hopeless at getting to sleep as I can't switch off. I do t want her to get into the habit either. I have rescue remedy and have used it this week but it didn't help.
I was looking at th Baer sleep one but wondered if it would help and for $15 I really would rather buy a real action DVD/iTunes.
Marydean I am pretty sure no lice but will double check and may go e her some worm ta let's just in case. I was thinking of taking he back to the osteopath (I took her whenshe was little) just to check she is ink e so to speak.
DD has been having trouble sleeping too since she started school. Poor thing tells me that she has all these numbers and letters floating around in her head and that she can't stop them lol! For her its not every night, maybe one or two nights a week where she has trouble.
I found some relaxing music helps her to nod off. Its called music for dreaming. Also I pretended to make up some 'magic sleep dust' which I sprinkle over her eyelids and she tells me in the morning that the sleep dust really works. Whatever works I say lol!
We've found loads of excellent kids CDs at the local library - everything from stories, to meditation, to relaxation music. I like to borrow first, to get a feel for which ones she likes before we commit to buying.
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DD5 started Kind and now won't sleep at night
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