My almost 5 year old wont go to sleep at night!!! Help!!?

Question

My son is very active and runs around all day although I do try to give him something to do where he can rest at least for an hour like coloring or doing puzzles or something liek that. He doesnt eat too much. Some days he eats almost constantly however. When it comes to bedtime, its a never ending frustration because he wont go to sleep! I'll start to try to get him asleep at 8. I'll let him take a bath and let him whine down. Then at 9 he is to go to his room and lay down. Its always hes wanting something to eat/drink, hes gotta pottty or hes wanting to play. If you dont let him do it he screams and crys (mainly because hes so sleepy!!) He just wont get still enough to get him asleep. He doesnt want TV at bedtime or anything either. Its not that he is a bad kid either. Hes always being complimented on his manners and his behavior. Hes an amazing little boy and very sweet and loving. I just dont know what to do about nighttime. Its 11:03 here and hes still not asleep completely.

Answer 1

that stinx

Answer 2

Well he's definetly old enough to understand that its his bedtime, and he needs to go lay down. I think  continue his bedtime routine with a bath and read him a story, but then expalin to him its bedtime and he has to stay in bed now. Give him a hug and a kiss goodnight and leave the room. If he gets back up (which he will) just put him back in his bed, but dont argue with him or give him drinks. etc. It might take awhile, burt if you are consistent I think it will work. Good Luck to you.

Answer 3

I've seen this on lots of tv shows where an expert comes in and helps you with your kids. What I seem to remember is that they want your attention. When he cries or whatever do you go back in? Just leave him, if he comes out, put him back. I remember one where the mom had to sit on the floor and slowly she got to leave the room. it just takes getting used to, and then you can put them to bed and leave them.

Answer 4

tell him youll take him to the park, buy him a toy, or get him a happy meal if he goes to bed on time and so on.

Answer 5

I know it seem like EVERYONES kid has ADHD but your child may be really legit. I have a friend that has it as an adult and she said at night its almost torture because she cant shut her mind off. Before you medicate him I would (as hard as it may be) put him to bed and everytime he gets up to go potty/eat/drink keep putting him back until he realizes its bedtime or nothing. If that does the trick then you know he is capable of sleeping just didnt want to.

Also a childes diet is IMPERATIVE. Cut out all sugars and white flower. This really can do damage for kids. Even "Juicy Juice" drink and all of those other "kid" foods are LOADED with all sorts of additives. Stay away from anything that has fake sugars, high fructose, ANY dyes like "Blue number 1" or even "enriched" wheat flower on the label.

Best of Luck! :)

Answer 6

i know the feeling. best advice? just don't give in. do not give him food or drink after bedtime... maybe a little more time to wind down. 20 min before it's time for bed, tell him, you have 20 more min.... then 10, then 5, etc. count it down for him and when it's time it's TIME. when he gets up, put him back down. again and again and again and again.......once he finds out he will get no response, he loses his payoff... and never let him wake up late in the morning!!! don't worry about his eating habits either... so long as he's gettin what he needs, he'll wax and wane naturally... don't give up mom! just be firm!

Answer 7

I think the most important thing is create a routine that you use every night.  Children find comfort in routine.

Has he been like this long or is it recent.  If recent, I would say something has happened to bring it on.   What has changed in your life?  You mentioned school...maybe he is concerned because of his speech impediment.  Is he going to a speech therapist?

I know we went through a period like this when our boy was 4, and it was rough.  I can tell you for a fact, stay away from spanking him or punishing him for this, because something is going on in his mind that is bothering him.  Try to find out what it is.

Good luck.

Answer 8

ok idk give him a tylenol jk! but foreal idk

Answer 9

well you must have ur hands full so i'll help you with this one. just let him run around just a little bit longer(atleast 5 more minutes) until his energy runs out and make sure he has a clean diper and give him a little hot milk (not too hot) and he should start going to sleep or start reading him his favorite bedtime story and cradle him.

I hope I helped

Answer 10

My 5 year old just feel asleep and it's 10:10 here, he's the same way, goes all day and fights sleep at night, but he will eventually go to sleep if I go in the room with him for a little while, a security thing I guess.

Answer 11

its ok just take a deep breath and relax . Try giving him a bath brfore bed and when he puts on his Pj's lay down with him and watch a movie with him or read a story and no worrys on the speech imparment that has nothing to do with it and most of the time children with speech imparments grow out of it as they get older

Answer 12

Sounds like you may need to speak to a psychiatrist or your family doctor.  Sounds like you are trying all the classic things to help him wind down but something is going on with him that you can't quite pin point.

It doesn't sound like he is afraid of his room or anything.  And it doesn't sound like he is un-exercised.  But there are very very very few cases that some kids do not sleep at all.  Recently there was a story I read where a child had not slept for more than 2 hours a day and this went on for years.  

Don't think that this may be your case.  But what you are explaining does seem to raise questions as to if he may have some underlying cause behind it.

Answer 13

Okay, I would make sure that he doesn't have anything with too much sugar/caffine in it past 5PM.  If for some special occassion that isn't possible saltine crackers will counteract some of that sugar.  He is doing this for attention and because he is tired.  Start his bedtime process earlier.  Get the drinks, the potty, and anyother excuse out of the way prior to 8pm.  The you need to be firm and if he crys that won't change the fact he must go to sleep when you tell him.  

It will totally stink for the first week maybe but if you stick to your guns then it will be worth it in the end.

Answer 14

get him tested for adhd.

Answer 15

Well sometimes, just be it. Leave him around a bit till he calms down. Sooner or later he'll fall asleep. If that doesn't work, try making him play on the bed with his toys, eventually he'll stop playing and fall asleep. I have a little brother who's 8 now, and he still does it. Usually just tire him out. Just let him do what he wants to do. Daily, wake him up and get him started. That might be disturbing and rude but sometimes, boys like to play a lot. Play with him for a couple hours then eat. After, try getting him to watch T.V. or something quiet. Drawing seems to be a good activity to do. Like I said, tire him out through the day so he can get some sleep at night.

Tip: Make sure you wake him up at the right time before P.M. Play with him at the right time, eat, and make him calm with something to make him go to sleep. :) Hope that helps!

Answer 16

Have you ever watched the Nanny?  She says that the first time you say, it's bedtime, darling.  The second time you take him back to be you don't say anything.  And the third.  And the fourth.    You do not give him water, potty, anything and also you don't talk to him. Do it as many times as it takes.  Sometimes it may take two hours the first night.  Don't give in, don't give up.  I've been there!

Answer 17

Just because he doesn't sleep at night does NOT mean he has some serious problem like ADHD.  I would recommend getting some soothing music for bedtime made for kids, you can even find it in places like Toys R Us to help him get to sleep.  Don't let him nap at all and start getting him in the routine to wake up early by getting him up at six to get ready for when he starts school.  Good Luck!

Answer 18

maybe its too much sugar or if you let gim drink soda it could be caffiene sounds like a normal 5 year old to me my brother iss five right now too same problem you say you read to him try to read to him nightly find books he likes with pictures

something he can have fun doing while becoming tired

Answer 19

i would take that poor thing to the doctor, no matter how young or old, children will fall a sleep, but yours seems a BIT to active.

Answer 20

This is very common. I think you should get him up early, when you get up. Give him little sugar drinks, even if he begs. No caffeine drinks! No naps. Keep him up until bed time. He may be getting very sleepy by then.

Answer 21

One thought I had, does he need ear tubes?  I know a lot of kids that all they needed was tubes (easy procedure) and their speech and hearing was fine.  Next, you can't give in to his every little whine.  If you are, he knows you will, and keep doing what he's doing.

Answer 22

Do you stay in the room with him when he is trying to sleep?  If so, then don't.  Put him in bed, tell him to stay, and leave.  Otherwise, he is just going to keep whining about going to bed.  Also, has he been checked for autism?  Some autistic children do not like to sleep.  He could be mildly autistic.  I am not sure if it is anything you have had him checked out for or not.  It could be he just wants to stay up with you.   Are you a late nighter?  If so, maybe you need to at least pretend to go to bed so he doesn't think he is missing anything.  My seven year old is a night owl also, but I make him go to bed.  He might lay there for a while, but at least he is getting some rest.

Answer 23

My daughter is the same way and I am getting so frustrated.  Some people on here are not going to have sympothy but this is a momma that well understands.  The best thing is to stay consistent and once he gets water and potty then there is too be no more.  Let him cry a bit and eventually they do fall asleep.  You may even have to get quite stern and take away privelages or at times I even have to spank her for defying me. Good Luck and God Bless!

Answer 24

Mom, he's got you all wrapped up when it comes to bed time.  He knows that by throwing a fit you will eventually let him do what he wants.  I had this same problem with my three year old son.  I would alway give in after a fit so he did it over and over.

I got wise and it took a good two weeks to nip that in the bud.  My son tried the same tricks too....drink, pottie, needs to be covered, etc.  I laid him down let him throw his fit and left the room.  When he got up I explained that it was bed time and mommy wasnt going to let him get his way anymore and put him back.  Sometimes I had to put him back in bed several times.  After about two weeks of doing this (some days were better) he quit fighting going to bed.

My advice get a routine and stick to your guns mom,  worked for me.

Good Luck.

Answer 25

give him a sleeping pill...lol

Answer 26

my boyfriend told me that his brother ALWAYS needed to be drove around the block twice for him to fall asleep.

i also agree,cars make me fall asleep soo good.

try it tomorrow:)