10 year old sleeping problems

[chilliwitch]

My 10 year old daughter has always gone to bed and watched a dvd to help her sleep and leaves it on all night.I turn it off when I go to bed only to wake up in the morning to find she has turned it back on during the night.I've asked her why she turns it on back on and she has told me that she cannot sleep without any noise.I told her tonight that during half term I'm going to turn it off and it must stay off.She ended up in floods of tears saying she was terrified and that she cannot sleep without it on as she gets scared.She said it takes her mind off being scared.When I asked her what she was scared of she said things coming to get her or having a fire in the house.She shares a room with her 17 yr old sister and says she cannot sleep if she isn't there(she is out most evenings)How do I solve this?My 2 older children never had this problem.She is a very bright little girl,I was told she's above average for her age in all subjects at school and is doing really well,could a over active imagination be the problem maybe?Do i leave it on and hope she'll grow out of it??
TIA
Chilliwitch x

[society]

Perhaps a night light might be of help to her.

[China Doll]

I grew out of it.

A radio rather than a television in her room that she can turn on might be better. Something like radio 4 with calming voices. It's better than having that than the bright lights she'll get with a telly on.

[ummmm]

Or a lamp...

[society]

If I don't turn the radio on I cannot sleep, China's idea might be a good one.

[China Doll]

I got the impression it was the noise she liked rather than being scared of the dark. Might help if you can clarify if it's one or the other or a mixture of both chilli?

[chilliwitch]

Thank you all,I was turning her lamp on when I started turning the Tv off,I wouldn't make her sleep in total darkness.I suggested her having her MP3 player on but she didn't like the idea as her big sister,in her infinite wisdom told her she'd strangle herself to death if the wires got tangled!!!
Think maybe I should leave it a bit longer then try again although i feel like i'm always giving up

[jno]

I sort of wonder if a 10-year-old is really afraid of boogeymen, she seems a little bit old for that... it might just be she's worried about any change of routine. It could be either light or sound. Why not try with a radio and a nightlight, by way of experiment?

[gingejbee]

I have a small unit at the bedside which generates a choice of natural sounds eg water fall, bubbling spring, birdsong, white noise etc. It's called a "tinnitus relaxer" and is available online from RNID. Far better than having a TV on .

[chilliwitch]

China I think its a bit of both,she doesn't have the lamp on if the tv is on but can't sleep with just the lamp on she doesnt like it if its too dark but equally unhappy if its too quiet!

[China Doll]

Sorry chiil... Ginge, is that tinnitus thing any good? My mother has meneires (sp probably) disease so would be interested to know.

[B00]

I'm going to go against everyone else here, but...

Why does she need to grow out of it? I'm 40, and every night I still go to bed with the TV on. Nowt wrong with it is there?

If it makes her happy, and there's obviously nothing unsuitable she's watching, i'd leave her to it.

[sara3]

do you have smoke alarms? show her the doors and windows are locked.

you need to reassure her as much as you can.

[chilliwitch]

jno,i thought that she was a bit old too and think you could be right as in the change of routine rather than being scared of "the boogeyman".gingejbee,that actually sounds really good and could maybe solve the problem.
Thanks all for ur help x

[gingejbee]

Yes, china - I have Menieres also and the tinnitus that goes with it . The relaxer was suggested by by my audiologist and is the best £20 I have spent - can't get to sleep unless it's on. Well worth a try.

[sherrardk]

Could you wait to implement whatever changes you decide upon until it gets dark later (that way, there would still be some natural light about so it might make things a bit better)?

[gingejbee]

Link to product


http://www.rnid.org.u...with_aromatherapy.htm

[chilliwitch]

sara3,we do have smoke alarms top and bottom of stairs and i have reassured her that,we also have a dog who wouldn't let anyone in!i've explained this to her but to no avail.
B00,thank you for that,I was worrying that maybe I was being too soft on her and thought maybe she was too old for it but hubby has the same opinion as you that if it helps her to sleep then so be it!

[jno]

it's okay when you're grown up and married, B00, but she's got a way to go yet. At some stage (flat-sharing? bed-sharing? Girl Guide camp?) she may be embarrassed to admit she can't sleep without son et lumiere going on. Best to overcome it now if she can - if she wants to resume it later in life, fine

[sara3]

actually, that's a good point.. what will she do when there are overnight school trips? they usually go away in year 6, next year for her.

maybe you could use that as a lever?

[B00]

I'm willing ot bet that with the excitement of any school trips, being with her mates at sleepovers etc, the thought of no TV won't bother her in the slightest.

I'm sticking to my guns (not least because im bloody stubborn!) that i see nothing wrong with her wanting the TV on at night.