My youngest is going to sleep at anytime between 10pm and 11:30pm. She does lots of exercise (she does gym). It doesn't seem to make any difference to whether she sleeps or not. She will also wake up in the night. She is not distressed, just awake. Usually she is not just running up and down... just awake... often reading.
She is growing a lot at the moment. Is this anything to do with it? She is also complaining of being hot but the house isn't really hot.
I am thinking she maybe doesn't need that much sleep (she gets up at 8am). She is a very bright girl... doing well at school. No-one has commented on her being tired at school (although I think she looks tired).She has good friends, is very confident. She has never been a great sleeper... but last year would get to sleep at about 9-9:30pm which seems more reasonable. She goes to bed at 8:30pm.
I think she just can't switch off... she is always more settled when at school (not the hols) and busy. She asks for work at school at the end of term when most of the pupils are playing games. She is always thinking.
My 12 and 10 yr old go to sleep before my 8 yr old.
Any ideas? If she's functioning well, should I just not worry?
1) Don't worry, she sounds great.
2) Observe the connection between her energey and food, specially sugary stuff, bread, potatos and corn. Those can keep some sensitive people awake.
i would agree with the comment above about making sure she doesn't eat / drink anything with sugar / additives etc after say 5pm.
also, do you have a bedtime routine? if not it may be a good idea to start doing the same thing every night ie bath at 7pm, in pjs by 7:30pm, make her a milky drink and read to her for 20 minutes or so, then maybe allow her to do something quiet and relaxing for half an hour (reading to herself quietly in bed is a good idea) lights out by 8:30pm and insist that she has to stay in bed and just rest even if she can't get to sleep. don't let her watch tv in bed or anything that will stimulate her mind.
i don't know if you've tried all this before so just my suggestions. as above i wouldn't worry too much if she seems ok, just try to do it gradually so that you get some time to yourself and she realises the importance of rest.
Thanks for the replies. She doesn't drink milk though so I can't give her a milky drink, She does have a night time routine... but it can't always be followed as on a Sat for example, she gets home at 9pm from gym....and on Tues cubs finishes at 8. She always reads before bed.
She has slept better the last 2 nights... I think she doesn't need as much sleep as her peers. I ahve spoken to her teacher who said she's not showing signs of tiredness at school.
However, this weekend she has been tired... and has suddenly started going to sleep before 10pm. She was asleep before 9:30pm last night... the first night this year.
I will keep an eye on what she is eating. As a baby she didn't eat bread/ potatoes etc out of choice... but has actually been eating lots of pancakey stuff etc recently.. and pasta. I wonder if there is a link as these were foods she refused when younger. We haven't had any of this food in the house for the last couple of days as the dog ate it!!!!
Thanks again for your replies.
