MY 11-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER CAN'T SLEEP! help?

Question

Every single night, my youngest daughter Demi can't sleep at night! She always comes to me and I really don't know what to tell her! I'm going to try to stay away from meds and going to the doctors, for once, I would like to do something on my own for once. She's comfortable, and shes not either too hot or too cold.

Any advice?

(She also tries to listen to her iPod, but that doesn't work either!)

Answer 1

Have your daughter do progressive muscular relaxation at bedtime, and in the night if she wakes up.   There are many Cd's available on the market.  

No pod, no lights.  Just relaxation.

Check Amazon..they have many titles to chose from, including Cd's for kids.

All the best.

Answer 2

My daughter is 9 and has always had this problem. She could go to sleep but would wake up and not be able to go back to sleep. I was always very tired as well. First of all my step dad said his vitamins keep him awake. I always gave her vitamins with dinner. So I switched them to breakfast. Also we cut out all caffeine (soda). Even a few drinks effects her ability to sleep. We have an instrumental CD we play at night, no words they seem to be more distracting. But what really worked for me was when I finally told her to go back to bed. I did not put her to bed I sent her to bed. Sometimes it would be 3 to 4 times a night. She cried herself to sleep quite a few times but within 2 weeks maybe a little more she was sleeping through the night and still is 8 months later (knock on wood). I do not know if it was just a coincidence or not. But I really wish I had gotten tough sooner. She still has bouts on insomnia, and if she is still awake after 45 minutes to an hour I let her read until she feels sleepy. Absolutely no TV. Only read or listen to the instrumental CD.

You cold also try having her write in a journal and see if she can get anything off her mind that may be hindering her sleep.

Good luck from one tired mom to another. If she has a bad dream she of course can wake me up. I am lucky enough that she is very honest and does not wake me up and just say it was a bad dream.

I also agree with another answer about exercise. When my daughter is in sports she sleeps much better. We are getting a trampoline for some fun exercise that they can do without leaving our yard. I do not let them go for bike rides etc . alone.

Answer 3

i am 13 sometimes i can't get to sleep at nighht.

Especially when i was 12.

Normally it was because i was watching t.v all night. Etc

But Normally its something on my mind

so muy her a writing pad or some thing in and say before she goes to bed write down all her worries and then hide the book.

It might be worries troubling her.

Hope i helped x

Answer 4

No television or computer at least an hour before her bedtime. I find personally that it helps to just lay in bed and read and relax. My mind tends to wonder and I can't fall asleep. Also, is she getting enough physical activity? Kids are sitting in front of computers and tv's for hours a day. If she's not getting worn out from playing, that might be the reason.

Answer 5

i suggest that you do take her to a doctor because there might be something wrong or maybe there is something troubling your daughter either way if worst the worst comes take her to the doctor

Answer 6

This may not be your case ,but when my son couldn't sleep I realized it was because he was drinking mountain dew about 2 hours before sleep. Also i love to read before bed I find my eyes getting tired after a few chapters. I would also research on google some ways to go to sleep and maybe talk to her doctor about it.

Answer 7

There are many home remedies for sleeplessness; for example, buy her a really, really boring textbook and make her read it. . . haha, just kidding. =) One thing you could do is give her a cup of warm milk that has a pinch of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla mixed it. Calcium acts as a natural muscle relaxant, and there are certain natural chemicals in milk (I forget their names) that encourage drowsiness.

A hot bath immediately before bed is also excellent for relaxing; in addition, there are many soothing soaps and oils that are meant to help you wind down before bedtime.

Another thing you could do is experiment with lavendar. Lavendar is a very soothing chemical and is very safe. You can buy it in spray form, or burn a candle scented with it. There are even special pillows with lavendar in them that you warm in the microwave and snuggle with. These are marketed to younger kids, but they might help your daughter as well.

There are two products on the market that I hear work very well, though I haven't tried them myself: Badger Sleep Balm and Moondrops. The former is this waxy stuff that you spread on your skin, and the latter is a homeopathic pill. Like I said, I can't personally attest to the effectiveness of these, but since they have no side effects, you should probably try them out.

Also, make your daughter isn't too stimulated in the late evening. Watching TV, listening to music, and using the computer all stimulate the brain and make it difficult to fall asleep.

I hope one of these things works for your daughter; if none of this stuff works and the sleeplessness continues, you should go to the doctor.

Answer 8

I have trouble falling asleep at night.  I've do two things that have helped.  First, I try to maintain the same sleep schedule everyday.  In other words, I try to avoid staying up late and sleeping in on the weekends.  This throws off your internal clock.  Second, I read every night before bed.  This seems to relax me and make my eyes tired.  Watching TV or listening to music never worked for me - reading does.

I think it's a good idea to avoid the drugs.  I tried Roserem a few times.  Somethings it put me right to sleep and sometimes it didn't work at all...and I usually felt tired the next morning.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Try warm chocolate milkshake.

Answer 10

My daughter at 10 went through this.  I told her that there are chemicals in milk, that when warmed, induce sleep.  It worked and she went to sleep.  Now, are there chemicals in milk?  Beats me, its what she believed that helped her sleep.  I'd stay away from anything stimulating, like the ipod.  Have her get up at a consistent time every day, including weekends, no exciting tv before bed, have her wind down with reading 30 minutes before bed.  A shower or bath always help too.  Good luck!