Is it possible for a child to have insomnia?

Question

I will wake my 5 year old daughter up every morning throughout the week at 6:30 a.m for preschool and she still will stay awake until 10:30 or 11:00 at night. I wish I could get her to go to sleep at 9:00 every night. We have the same routine at night. I give her a bath at 8:30 and then it's time to get in the bed. I will lay down by her, she wants me to read a story, so I read her a story. Then I tell her it's sleep time and I turn off the lamp. She will lay there for 20 or 30 minutes quiet as can be and out of the blue she will say "mom I can't sleep" and I will tell her to close her eyes and try. Then the same thing happens 20 or 30 minutes later until its 10:30 or 11:00. And she is hard to wake up! If I didn't make her go to bed, she can stay up till midnight! I dont know what to do. I want her in bed earlier than that. Another thing...she does not drink caffeine period.

Answer 1

yes its possible you should talk to her doctor and ask about it. it could just be a stage or maybe there is something that can be done. good luck =]

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Answer 2

keep putting her to bed early, allow her to read some before bed on her on .  i have a five year old to and he had that problem for a while.  i let him read on his own after i read and tell him to stay in bed.  How much sugar do you giver her during the day?  and does she take a nap?

Answer 3

9pm is too late for a 5 year old.

Try a routine like this:

Dinner at 5pm.

At 5.45pm do a physical activity with the family, even if it is a walk to the park and a kick around with a football.

At 6.30pm give her a bath.

7pm = storytime

7.30 = lights out

She doesn't have insomnia, she is simply going to bed too late.

Answer 4

I agree with Ken O.   Make sure she gets enough exercise during the day.   I know that active days wear out my kids (5 and 3 year old).

Answer 5

yes, it is completely possible. I had it when i was younger. My doc told me to take any of these to help get 2 sleep:

melitonin(works best)

benedril

motrin

Good luck! I hope I helped!!

Answer 6

Try coming up with some more physical activities for her to do, make her pooped out.

Answer 7

Bed time needs to be at 7:30 and strict. Make her stay in her room and don't go back in and lay with her, make her find her own way to settle down and sleep. Is she napping during the day? At 5 her naps should be tapering off especially if they are interrupting her night sleep.

How about sugar? Do you guys have desert with dinner? cut out the sweets. Do you watch TV before the tub? That could have a factor too. It could be too much stimulation.

With kids if they go beyond when they should go to sleep it seems like a reverse reaction and they get wired.

I also hate to tell you but part of it could be that she doesn't get to see her Mom enough  - if she's up at 6:30 and off to pre-school (really it's daycare not pre-school) and you pick her up in the evening to start your routine and you are probably distracted as well. I'll be willing to bet it's a huge factor.