Five Year Old Won't Sleep

Well one of the things to consider is his diet.( there been Any change in his diet sometimes we can be guilty of feeding them to close to bedtime that can have an affect on them please write back

T.,
Going through the same issues. I brought it up to my pediatrician and she asked me to review his sleep routine. On some days he gets a little more stimulation before bedtime (due to his younger sister). So we went back to slowing things down by 0630, bathtime, low lights w/ no background noise, two books, prayers, and sleep by 0730 or 0800. We downloaded Kids sleepytime music onto an ipod and play it on continuous loop on low volume for him. Its working.

He is obviously having a need to be close to you right now. I would set up a comforter on the floor by your bed and let him know he can lay there if he needs to. THe more you meet his need, the quicker it will go away.

Also, an hour and a half nap for a 4 year old seems excessive. I don't know any 4 year olds who still naps.

Hi there. I wouldn't make a big deal out of this. Either your son is feeling some need to come into your room or else he's gotten himself into a bad habit.

You can simply take him back to his bed when he comes into your room (if you even wake up, that is). Let him go ahead and do this and ignore it; the phase will likely pass. Or make up a sticker chart or other reward system whereby if he does not come into your room for 7 days he gets a toy or a treat or something.

Good luck and try not to worry about it. ;)

Something could be happening at preschool that you are not aware of. Another kid bothering him. A new teacher, new student, new change in routine. I would check all of this out first. Then if there are no changes I would take him to town and let him pick out a special night light, maybe a flashlight. Sometimes new special bedding helps. I would for sure not give him any medicine just because he wont' stay in his bed. Is he getting naps? Maybe he just isn't as tired anymore.
To many people pop meds into their child to take the easy way out.
I used to go and crawl in Mom and Dad's bed with them. Dad said Mom would never wake up and he would just throw the covers over me and let me stay there. He said the boys did too. It's a stage that some kids go through and then they out grow it and go on.......
Forget about the meds....that's a dangerous thing to do....

Honor his need without argument. Make a little space for him on floor next to your bed just in case. Put him to bed in his bed, but say now if you need to, you can come in here with me but I know you're a big boy and will be okay. The more you meet his need, he'll feel secure and won't need it as much. He's probably going through something emotional that you haven't pinpointed yet. Also create an anti-monster mist to spray everywhere in his room before bed with lavender essential oil (few drops) and a crunched up bay leaf mixed with water.

Has anything outside changed like people moving in with a dog that might be barking at that time. We had people 2 doors down who had dogs and both my kids were in my bed in the middle of the night because they barked. Once the people moved out my kids have slept better.

Hello. First I would evaluate how much he really is sleeping during the day, and see if that is preventing him from staying asleep at night.(although you do say he goes down ok at night) When I worked in daycares, many of our 5 year olds had a quiet time but did not actually sleep. They had pretty much grown out of naps, but I do think it is important for a 5 year old to still have a quiet time.

If he has not mentioned being scared then he is proabably not having dreams or anything. I would not directly bring this up and give him any ideas or any reasons to become scared.
So then give him incentive to stay in his own room. Give him a few ideas of what he can do when he wakes up(in his room) and a few ideas of what to do to go back to sleep (like thinking of some fun things, happy things etc..) then for every night he stays in his own room he can put a sticker on a chart. When the chart is filled take him to the dollar store.
This is not bribery, rather, it is teaching a child that there is a correct and incorrect way to do something(in this case-where to stay at night)
and then giving them the control over their actions. If they control their actions, they get incentive, but needing to build up to the incentive helps them gain control over their behavior. They are being proactive in making the right choices.
It is a process that may take time, but be consistent and loving at the same time

Is he scared at night? If this is just something he is doing cause he wants to be with you offer him a special night that he can sleep in mommy's room and make a bed for him on the floor, only on that day. The rest of the time you must insist on him going back to his room. Even if it takes you a few nights to readjust him back to his old routine. If he sees you are ok with him there he will just continue to do it. My son went through this I think they just miss us :)

Is he getting out in the sunshine? Sun regulates your bio clock. Many children (because of the sun scare) are kept out of sun and it is throwing their bio clock off. Also, exercise and a lot of movement are helpful so that at the end of the day, his body has gotten it exercise, sunshine and nutrition (water, juice etc). Check out bamradionetwork.com for great advice tips. Rae Pica is awesome.
Mar. Musicwithmar.com

hi,
Has his food changed- sounds like it could be sugar, or lack of b vitamins, or not enough protien,
Check Internationl Chiropractic Pediatric Association for someone local to check for htis,
best of luck-k

Hi T. J., I have been giving my son Melatonin for the past 3 yrs now and he started out with half a tablet and now takes a full tablet. It was reccomended by his Neurologist due to the fact that I did not want to put Tommy at age 3 on chemical drugs with all the horrible side effects..Tommy sleeps thru the nite whereas he would be up for over a 24hr period for no reason and it was to say the lest unbearable for us all. Tommy does not take naps at all coz even with the melatonin he wouldn't sleep..so his preK made arrangements for him to be up quietly during nap time for the other children..after all it was reccomended by his Neurologist so it may be a different situation for you in his daycare but they should be able to accomidate you and your son's needs...I ran a Licensed Child Care Home for over 10 yrs in the past and regarded every concern from a parent no matter what my day schedule was...each child is important and should never just fall into a grove so to speak to make things easy for the flow of the system's process..that is my opnion but I am sure something can be done for him as sleep in integral to his total health developement...also you can just ask your pharmasist about how much Melatonin to use and ask your Doctor...I know it is safe for Tommy and his sleep is so much better with it...you may email me if you have anyother questions I will listen and help as I can...Hope this helps...Remember always ask your pharmasist coz they need to know for your safty..Good luck with all that.
Best Regards,
D.
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Hi,

I have a nine year old that has never slept well. Does he have a stuffy nose? Most of my daughter's sleeping problems are from allergies. Even a little stuffy nose can cause him to wake up. Also try taking away the naps. Be prepared that can make him very crabby until he gets use to it. Hope this is a phase that does not last to long.

bye
g