Eight year old daughter constant bed time battle

Our daughter has recently been diagnosed with possible spd and add. Don't know yet. However, bedtime is terrible for the family!!!! She starts with an anxiety about needing to go to the bathroom and excessive crying and is very unconsoleable. Is there anything we can do to help make this time of night less nightmarish? Music, books, massages, heat, anything to soothe her?



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Aug 19, 2013
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starstarstarstarstar 		thank you
by: Anonymous

thank you so much for your advice:) I have been doing the reading to her until she falls asleep and i am picking books that are actually a little boring to her, so she will fall asleep and not stay awake trying to listen. The keeping her asleep through the night has become a growing issue. She wakes at 2am and cries that she cannot sleep even though she is yawning and very tired. I am trying to play white noise when she gets asleep to try and keep her asleep and not letting her mind wander into anxiety. Well keep on trying, thanks for the advice, keep it coming.
Aug 19, 2013
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starstarstarstarstar 		routine
by: Anonymous

Routine is absolute. When we stray from our normal routine everything is harder. We also have a light up turtle that he likes to sleep with and always wants his favorite car or airplane or whatever is his favorite for the day. We sing him a song and then off to bed. He cries sometimes but other times he drifts off to sleep. He does fight it sometimes though, some nights are easier then others. I wish I had more ideas that is just what has helped us make it easier. Not great, but easier. Good Luck
Aug 18, 2013
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starstarstarstarstar 		No Easy Answer
by: Anonymous

My daughter has had lifelong bedtime issues. The first thing that helped me was to realize that she isn't trying to be difficult, she is truly afraid and unable to self-regulate. That's helped me to respond with more patience and compassion to what can be a very frustrating problem.

We resolved the issue by 1) having a very consistent bedtime routine and 2) me staying in her room until she falls asleep. Is it easy or convenient? No! But, it is a huge help and support to her. We've actually turned it into a sweet time of me reading aloud to her each night. We've read thousands of pages of good quality literature this way (which is beneficial in so many ways).

Best of luck to you as you figure out what works best for your little girl!

P.S. - I find she goes to sleep more easily if I choose books that are slow and descriptive (like the Little House on the Prairie series, etc.) rather than something action packed.

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