any ideas on getting a 7yr old to stay asleep

Crystal - posted on 05/28/2009

Maybe you can give her a reward for NOT waking you up at night...like if she can go all week without waking you up, she can get a new outfit at the store or a new CD or DVD. As for her sleep...I think you need to remind her that night time is for sleeping..so IF she wakes up, she should just go back to sleep. If she is having trouble going back to sleep, maybe you can try some "nature sounds" she can use at night if that helps or as long as she stays in bed and stays quiet until she goes back to sleep. ?? Not sure on your doctor...you might want to seek a second opinion. If she wants to know where you are...have you tried keeping pictures of yourself next her bed? Or maybe she can take something of yours (a pillow, blanket, shirt, ??) to bed with her. Or maybe you can work out an arrangement where you promise to check on her before you go to bed?

Don't know if any of that helps. GOOD LUCK.

Jo-anne - posted on 05/28/2009

thank you for your comments, I try to tire her out but nothing seems to work, I also get her up at the same time everyday and she is so tired and very hard to get up, I watch what she eats after tea and I have kept to a bedtime routine including a story. This problem has been on going for quite a while and my doctor says she is just lively!! she doesn't have bad dreams she just wants to know where I am.

Cheryl - posted on 05/23/2009

Is she snoring? Is her room too hot? Sinus infection? You might want to start with a complete physical to make sure she doesn't have some kind of sleep apnea.

Kelly - posted on 05/23/2009

Take a careful look at her diet, especially after 6:00 pm. No sugars or caffeines. Also, make her bed super cozy and welcoming for her. Make sure she has a cozy stuffed animal to cuddle with. Finally, a nice, warm bath every night before she goes to bed, with lavender scented body wash and a quiet book or story to soothe her mind and take her to a place of sweet dreams. These are just tricks to help lul her into a peaceful, calm. low-energy state. If you have done these things and she is still waking up, take a look at environment (neighbors' barking dogs, other outside noises) that might be waking her up. Is she having bad dreams that wake her up? Also, does she have any food allergies that would cause an over-stimulation? If all else fails, seek a doctor's help. There may be an imbalance in her adrenal glands or a lack of seratonin (the brain-released chemical that counteracts adrenalin). Her constant waking state could be caused by a number of things. Try the tricks first, to rule out the obvious, then take it to the next level (doctors) if the tricks don't at least help. Finally, remember that changing her sleeping pattern will take time. Stay consistant with what you are doing and watch for the eventual change. Good luck!

Crystal - posted on 05/23/2009

Is she requesting anything when she wakes up? Does she go right back to sleep? This sounds like a serious sleep problem that you should talk to your pediatritian about...and possibly a sleep specialist.

Have you talked to your daughter to see why she feels she is waking up? Is she dreaming? Does she need to use the bathroom? It sounds like it's not really something she is doing intentionally, so I would definitely talk to a doctor.

Eboni - posted on 05/23/2009

Jo-anne when my son was seven (10years old now) he was somewhat the same. I put him on a schedule during school and summer vacation time. The key is to stay consistent and obtain a busy and full schedule for her. Whatever her current activities are, re-evaluate. She should be at that stage where you have to go and wake her, because she had a busy and full day.