My daughter refuses to sleep and the doctors say nothing is wrong with her.?

Marlène - posted on 08/26/2009

That's true, a good bedtime routine will help her. As I'm a massage therapist, I sometimes use my tools to help my kids fall to sleep which includes :

- indigo essences http://www.indigoessences.com/ => magic in a bottle !

- combined or not with essential oils. For kids, use 1-2 drops of oils mixed with a good vegetable oil and apply to the sole of the feet. Great oils to help sleep (and safe for kids) are lavender and roman chamomille. I and my kids also love the blends "Peace and Calming" or "Gentle Baby" from Young Living www.youngliving.com
- and when you massage your daughter's feet, use your thumb on her big toes with a mouvement starting at the top of the toe and running down the "fleshy" part with a pressure from medium to light (it shouldn't tickle) and start again at the top of the toe.
Keep repeating that downward pressure for 1-2 min on each toe, one at a time. She might literally fall asleep in your hands.

As a mum now, what I found usefull was to explain to my kids why they need to go to bed before us parents (they need it to grow, to help their brain recover from what they learned, to have more strengh and stamina for learning and playing,....). My kids respond well when they know it's for a good reason and not because mum said "you have to !"
One other trick with your daughter is to use a clock. Try to find an old style one with the hands. It's easier for her to see. And put 3 drawing next it (or only the firs two ones). The first one should be the time when you start the bedtime routine (shower, toothbrush, etc..) like 7.30. The second one should be the one when she should be in her bed, ready for a story or a massage like 8.00. And the last one should be her waking time. That will give her more confidence and a sense that she's in charge. She can come and see the clock to know if she still have time to play or not.

Hope some of these will help.

Diane - posted on 08/25/2009

My daughter I thought was hyper, turns out she was over tired and trying to fight sleep. Choose a scheduled bedtime for her, and about an hr and a half before that start getting her ready, make sure she is aware of what "IS" going to happen, after her teeth are brushed and she is cozy in her pjs Read to her or set a soothing tv show or movie, A great one on dvd is Good night moon, it's very lulling. Also maybe sit in with her the first couple of nights til she falls asleep, and make sure you stand your ground...you're the mom, kids don't know whats best for them thats where we as parents come in. 98% of the time kids are smarter than we are, the other 2% falls in experience they don't have yet. Believe me Your daughter is tired and will sleep, you just have to follow through. Hold your ground Mom you can do it!! Take care and good luck.

Linda - posted on 08/25/2009

What is she doing before bedtime, sometimes they just need to unwind. No tv and no rough play and try some sugerfree cereal befoe bed ,then read a book together.

April - posted on 08/25/2009

My sisters doctor told her that sugar works the opposite in little kids, and can help them sleep. Nothing with coffee like chocolate.
Meletonin is a natural sleep add non additing, and prevents brain cancer. If she breaks the cycle of staying up late. It will stop. I would give her melatonin sleep in a drink and read her a book. Some cuddling and one on one time is great. You can get melatonin sleep with the vitamins, we all have melatonin in the brain some have more.

Meghan - posted on 08/24/2009

My daughter is 7 and a night owl but usually gets up by 6:30 because my husband & I work. We've tried everything to get her to bed earlier. You've probably already thought of these things but our dr gave us a list of things to watch....sugar/sugary drinks after 2pm, tv, computer, etc should be shut off an hour before bed, routine, routine, routine is what everyone stresses to us.

Actually, one of us will sit in her room and ask about her day and just talk for about 10 minutes. That seems to help. We also got her aone of those planetarium things that puts the moon and stars on her ceiling. It gives her something to look at while she relaxes. We also let her read quietly and that usually makes her tires.

Meghan - posted on 08/24/2009

My daughter is 7 and a night owl but usually gets up by 6:30 because my husband & I work. We've tried everything to get her to bed earlier. You've probably already thought of these things but our dr gave us a list of things to watch....sugar/sugary drinks after 2pm, tv, computer, etc should be shut off an hour before bed, routine, routine, routine is what everyone stresses to us.

Actually, one of us will sit in her room and ask about her day and just talk for about 10 minutes. That seems to help. We also got her aone of those planetarium things that puts the moon and stars on her ceiling. It gives her something to look at while she relaxes. We also let her read quietly and that usually makes her tired.