Help! I have a 9 year old insomniac!

[kgalas]

I need some advice. My 9 year old dd has been having problems falling asleep. Normally she goes to bed at 9 and wakes up on her own about 6:45-7 am. Lately though, there have been several nights where she is still awake at 11-12. We've told her to read, relax. She says she can't get comfortable and can't stop thinking. She wants to go in the living room and watch tv or we'll find her in her little sister's bed in the morning. Last night she begged us to come in our bed. I said no that we couldn't start that habit. My DH and I are getting frustrated and don't know what to do. Please help!

Thanks!

 

[jacmar]

Sleeplessness

I had the same problem with my DD who is now 12.

The only suggestion I have is maybe it's hormones? My DD started her period at 11 1/2, so around 9 - 9 1/2, the sleeplessness, anxiety, etc started in. I did not allow her to come into my bed-I did however let her read or watch TV. This did go on for about a year on and off and then it just stopped.

All the best to you and your DD-I know its HARD to deal with this when you are trying to sleep also!!

 

[LaughingWater]

My 13 y/o went through that when she was about that age, and my 10 y/o is experiencing it now.

As Jacmar suggested, hormones and anxiety are probably factors. Reading and/or writing until one is tired works nicely.

TV is an option too, though I read somewhere that anything electronic ~ like the TV or the computer ~ can actually mess with your natural sleep pattern because it stimulates the brain a little too much. Who knows though. If reading and writing hadn't worked, I probably would have attempted the TV.

I also read there is a possibility that the calcium, magnesium, and tryptophan in milk can have a calming effect and may aid in sleep (I think the jury is still out on that though...according to a Jan. 2008 WebMD article anyway. I'll have to read up on that more.). The kids like milk, so I've had them drink a little before bed. It has helped, but it could be the placebo effect.

Regular exercise may help too. Although my 13 y/o has a regular routine that includes Cathe and Cardio Coach, and she still has bouts of sleeplessness at times, so it's not a cure all.

I would Google "natural sleep remedies" and see what kind of harmless, non-drug suggestions are out there.

 

[megadoo]

Is it possible she has been having nightmares? I know I have seen my boys (who are younger) try to stay awake if they have had a nightmare the night before. Hope it gets better for her, and you.

 

[horseshowmom]

Heading to the doctor tomorrow with my 16 year old for the same reason. Although she falls asleep alright, she can't stay asleep. Of course, she didn't tell me this had been going on until recently and she's been struggling with it for almost a year. I'm hoping they have natural remedies, kind of scared of Lunesta, Ambien, etc afte hearing all the side effects in their commercials.

 

[Boingo1]

When my son first turned 9, he started having "fears" at night when going to bed. Fears of things like meteors hitting the house or fires or whatever. He could NOT sleep in his room (on the top bunk with his 7 yr old brother on the bottom bunk) anymore. He HAD to sleep in my older son's room on the futon. So I let him (as long as my 13 yr old will allow it).

Once in a while he'll go back to the bunk, but he gets scared still.

Can your older daughter let her sleep in her room for a bit? I know it's hard. I feel for them though. I used to have nightmares too and was afraid of sleeping alone!

 

[kgalas]

Thanks everyone! I don't think it's nightmares. I think she can't settle down-she says she can't stop her mind from racing. The hormone/anxiety theory makes sense. Funny thing, on Monday night we had a few people over for the basketball game and she had no problem falling asleep at her normal time. Last night, no dice. Chris, she shares a room with my middle daughter-she's been crawling into her bottom bunk. I think I'll just let her-it doesn't seem to bother her sister. I'm afraid of those drugs, too, especially for a teen. I'll try the warm milk trick, too. Can't hurt, right?

 

[bitmover]

My nine year old son has trouble falling to sleep. He knows that he needs to just stay in bed and read, and eventually he falls asleep and never seems worse for wear the next day. I personally don't think you should let her watch tv -- they do say that that stimulates the brain and makes it harder to fall asleep -- we have no screen time for 30-60 minutes before bedtime at our house. Also, it's just a slippery slope.... you do not want her watching tv until all hours of the night forever, do you?

good luck!

-Beth

 

[kgalas]

That's exactly my thinking, Beth. She doesn't have a tv in her room for that very reason. I told her to bring home her most boring textbook-that should do the trick!

 

[story1267]

Klaudia, I feel for you. My two have sleep issues as well.

If she's anxious, do you think she might try something like a guided imagery relaxation / meditation? There must be some that you could download to an iPod or MP3 player.

My DS takes melatonin every night to sleep. Otherwise he just wouldn't. This was on the advice of his developmental pediatrician.

My DD will take just a half of one every once in a great while if she's having trouble falling asleep. There are some studies out there that too much melatonin given to adolescent girls can mess with their hormones so it's a very rare occurrence.

I'd also try things like other relaxation techniques - warm bath or shower before bedtime. Maybe some chamomile tea if she can tolerate that weird taste .

Good luck.