5 Yr Ols Sleep Issues

The only advice I could give is to watch what he is eating or drinking anytime after lunch. Does he have any caffine in his food or drink. My other thought would be, is he allergic to any foods. Some kids have food allergies that really effect their behavior and make them hyper which can effect their ability to calm down at night and fall asleep. I suggest these possibilites because they were the problem for 2 friends of mine. When they dicovered the problem food the issue went away.

Hi M.- I feel for you. My son is almost 2 and has the same issues. I just scheduled an appointment for him at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in the pulminary area for a sleep evaulation. Surprisingly, I got an appt for 3 weeks from now and supposedely it is where the infamous Jodi Mindell is. Just a resource in case you decide you might need it.
GOOD LUCK!

Do you have a nightime routine you do with him? Sometimes having a snack time, a book time and then a little snuggle time gives his body time enough to slow down and que into the fact that it's time for bed. Maybe check the time that he is going to bed too, the time he is going to bed now, maybe too late for him.

M.,
I feel for you, I have two active kids who have had their share of sleep issues. I'll share what i've learned from them, maybe there's something you can use. At 10 and 7 both of my kids will usually go to bed without too many problems, so there is hope. In fact I think I can honestly say that both of my kids have on occasion actually put themselves to bed when they were too tired to wait for one of their parents to go through their usual bedtime reading routine. FWIW:

1. Warm baths can truly calm wild and cranky beasts at any time of day. Sometimes that is enough to calm them down (slow them down?!) enough to sleep.

2. When my kids haven't had enough sleep recently or have been over stimulated during the day they have a much harder time falling asleep.

3. When my son is very tired, he will actually get crazy active in order to stay awake. Recently he really surprised my by explaining this, "Mom, I'm just trying to stay away!"

4. Both of my kids sleep much better when they have had at least an HOUR of vigorous exercise during the day. More is better for my son.

5. The more TV they watch, the more trouble they have getting to sleep. The later in the day they've watched the worse it is. When my kids were younger, my husband could walk in the door in the evening and within a few minutes tell if we'd watched any TV during the day!

6. Both of my kids have gone through long periods of time when they listened to quiet books on tape while they were falling asleep.

M.,
I would make sure that his activities before bed are not vigorous & rowdy! Make his evening activities quiet & calm. Not video games, internet, physical stuff. Do a usual routine: bath, snack, book, bed, etc. and do it consistently each night to get him in the routine of knowing what's coming next. And definitely watch out for sugar & caffeine after dinnertime--chocolate especially riles my son up! Good luck to you and your son. Denise

I know several people that give their children a vitamin (melatonin i think). There pediatricians recommended it to them and some are younger than 5. It has been a miracle for one of my friends with a 5 year old boy who NEVER slept. I would ask your doc.

Sometimes I think my kids could stay up the entire night,and even go to a playground at bedtime. I'm still trying to figure my circumstances out. I've read that certain foods help trigger a chemical that induces drowsyness. Turkey is one. Ask your doctor about it, and maybe they will name some other foods and recommend some other techniques. Or it may even be a problem for which he needs to see a psychiatrist.
..........Just some ideas. I hope one of them helps.

All four of my kids now go to bed no problem. I had one on melatonin for a while. Two were so hyper that they just couldnt wind down. Now, after reading this book, my kids go to bed on time witih no meds! (By the way melatonin is not a vitamin, its what you body naturally produces to regulate wake/sleep cycles and you can buy a chemical version. They do not know if it can be harmful to childrens bodies yet. Some suggest it may hamper puberty, growth etc.) The book I read was called "Sleepless in America" and was by Mary Sheedy Kurkinca. Your son may be a sensitive sleeper or just an intense little boy who needs help to wind down. This book will help you make a tailor made sleep plan for your child with no tears!!!

First, I would say make sure there's not a medical problem that is causing this. But I also heard of great success from a neighbor who gently brushed their son's arms and legs with a hair brush briefly, right before bed. they said it's amazing how it helps their son relax and go to sleep. Otherwise he was staying up late. I have not tried this on my sons, but it really hasn't been a problem for them.... worth a try.