My 5 year old just doesn't sleep.

[mellywelly]

My five year old son just never seems tired, and can keep going until 11.30pm at night, I just can't get him to sleep. Yesterday we got him up at 8.30am (abit of a lie in cuz school hols) took him out all day to a park loads of fresh air, he was still pottering around in his room at 11.00pm. Tried putiing t.v in his room in hope he'll fall asleep watching it-no avail, he just keeps going until we go to bed when he finally settles down,(in bed with us!)

How can I get him to sleep a-In his own bed and
b- at a reasonable time.

My other children 12 and 8 are no problem and they all have their own rooms.

[redcrx]

so children dont need so much sleep.

A TV in his room and anything like that is going to make it less likely that he will sleep as he wont be able to switch off.

If hes not stopping you from sleeping then give him a few books to read and leave him to it.

OK you may get a few tantrums at first but surely thats better than him still sleeping in your bed when hes older.

What is his bedtime routine? does he have quiet time to wind down?

[another-view]

How about half a bottle of Jack Daniels?

[mellywelly]

We do all the usual bath, story, etc but he's just like a yo-yo, we did take his t.v out but he completely trashed his room, everything came off his shelf, out his cupboards he even took the mattress off his bed in temper! and muggins had to clean it all up the next day.

I suppose you are right some children do not need much sleep.

[mellywelly]

Is the Jack Daniels for me or my son?!?

I have given him medised a few times and I have to admit it did work, but not something I like doing!

[redcrx]

you have to stand your ground. If he trashes the room then just remove things from it, until he learns. Dont force him to sleep and dont force him into his bed. Let him stay awake if he wants to but be careful not to let him sleep in.

Once a week my son (whos 3) has an evening where he gets overtired. Anyone would think that he'd fall asleep no problem then but no, he will go on jumping around and calling and playing until 10.30pm. But he never comes out of room, and if he makes a mess he helps clear it the next day.

[spudqueen]

My youngest son could stay up till all hours and was then awake early the next morning. It was actually the later he stayed up, the earlier he woke up the next day. I found that getting him to bed earlier, reading him a story and giving him a cuddle relaxed him and he would then sleep through until a reasonable time the day next.

[mellywelly]

I bathed him, read him a book about 7ish, just been up, he's pottering around in his room and put himself a Doctor Who D.V.D on. When he's back at school the tele is coming out to see if that makes a difference...tantrum alert!!!

[redcrx]

good luck!

have you thought of a reward chart or something? Sainsburys have got some bob the builder and fireman sam ones in store at the moment which are pretty good.