My six year old daughter will not go to sleep until very late at night- any ideas on how to help her sleep?

Question

She is a very active child and spends her days running about and doing activities. She has a bath, a story and a video or talking book before bed. She wakes up at six most mornings. Every night she lies in bed for longer and longer claiming she is unable to sleep- last night it was 10.30 before she slept- she is really tired and argumentative. She has no e numbers or caffeine- does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

Most docters say that you should eat dinner hour before you go to sleep.

or maybe tell her to take a showere before bed because thats wat makes me go to bed.

if none of this  works  try to make her tired the whole day playing stuff then she would want to sleep

Answer 2

Take her to the doctor from their he can set her up with something. Good Luck.

Answer 3

keep her up all night and the next day and by the next night she will go to sleep very early

Answer 4

All I see is that she is active, but active where? At home, being active at home really doesn't get her tired, but if you maybe take her to a park and let her cut loose, and really get to the point of getting exhausted, I'm sure that she will be tired and would sleep well, or if you do have a backyard, let her get out in the yard, but watch her, let her tire herself out on her own.  If that doesn't work, than you need to take her to see her pediatrician.

Answer 5

She needs to be soothed down and ready for sleep not stimulated by videos and stories. Give her the bath if it is relaxing but stop it if it is more like playtime in the swimming pool, give her a warm milky drink and put her to bed with the lights out, no stories, talking books or videos

Answer 6

have you tried calming music, and lavendar oil?

perhaps a story tape.

visit her repeating the same lines

"your tired now, you've had a busy day, it's time to go to sleep." give her a light hug and leave room.

i know it's hard but stay as calm as possible.  

black out curtain linning may also be useful.

goodluck.

Answer 7

Well continue what you do!! But when you read her her book give her a glass of warm milk and it will help hre sleep way better dont let her watch tv and when she is yelling mom i cant sleep ignore her and if she  starts to cry let her cry she will eventually fall alseep!!

Answer 8

Ask her why she cannot fall asleep. Ask if anything is bothering her.  If she doesn't know, take all the toys and amusing things out of the room, she could be getting distracted when trying to fall asleep. The people who are still awake are maybe being to loud. When she is trying to fall asleep, rub her back lightly (that gets em every time). Also, she can't get a riled up about an hour before she goes to sleep, make sure it is a calm environment. Hope I help.

Answer 9

instead of a video or talking book, try some soothing music. Make sure the lights are completley out and there are no distractions. Also try hot milk and honey, it makes me slep like woah. Heat some milk up in a microwavable mug, pour some honey in a separate cup/mug (just enough to cover the bottom) - once the milk is heated pout it into the other cup and mix it up. It makes me really sleepy.

Answer 10

eh,

idk

7 and a half hours sounds good to me,

but yeah i'd try not giving her caffine after 8 or so,

or try skipping the late night bath

when i was little..and still now...water wakes me up

movies aren't a good thing to do before bed

according to an article i once rad

because it gets ur mind interested and awake

Answer 11

You don't say what time you try to get her to bed at, but you do say she's "really tired and argumentative", do you think she could be over tired & over stimulated?

I have never thought that kids watching vids at bedtime was a good idea. I know lots of people who do this & they usually have a time getting them to settle afterwards.

The hot milk suggestion was really good, but I don't think honey would be too good for her, as this is adding sugar, all be it the natural kind, at a late time.

Giving her half an hour of story time after having her bath, while she's having her milk, would be a good thing to try, without any of the other distractions. She won;t like it at first, but if it works, it'll be worth all the tantrums she throws to start with.

GL getting her to settle down. It's never an easy job!

Answer 12

wake her up early and don't let her nap

Answer 13

Does she sleep during the day?

I would turn off her tv as night time as this might be keeping her awake.

Answer 14

well it sounds like she grow out of her routines she was in when she was a baby then lol

take her to the doctors or turn off the tv the radio then read her a story and she be off like a light that what my teacher told me and maybe you should not give her stuff with e-number in or sweets or chocolate or crisp coz then she have won't have to much energy to ran arould for ages

Answer 15

Kids keep themselves up. I mean, she is probably just trying to do this for as long as possible. She iwll surely eventually get sick of being so tired and will crash one night, getting her back on schedule.

Try to ste a cetain routine. GEt her pajamas on, red a book.. sing to her or whatever helps. Just usual stuff. Thsi is just a phase. She will get htrough ti soon. Dont worry too much.

I have heard some people try this. They will let thier son or daughter who refuses to go to bed... they will let them stay up all night. Without you yelling at her to get to be.d Let her see how tired she gets. Then she might realize that she has mroe energy and mroe fun when she sleeps. I have personally never tried it.. but i have heard of others who have.

Well, i hope this works out for you. GOOD LUCK

Answer 16

We gave our daughter, who was 4 at the time, a CD player and some music CD's and audio books on CD.  Now when she can't sleep she just puts in a CD.  It helps her fall asleep faster and keeps her from constantly trying to come out of her room!

Answer 17

give her a glass of water before she goes to bed