Sleeping advice

[jonah hart]

Hi guys just got back from the docs with my 15 year old son whos struggling to sleep at night. The docs advice is to not watch t.v too late nor have any caffeine. To read or do light exercise. All the stuff i told him.. However my son thinks this advice is rubbish (Did i mention hes 15 an knows it all) Anyone eles got any advice please? Weve talked through any personal problems he might have and he seems happy. Ive explained its an important year at school for him so he may not seem stressed but cud be under neath. Hes taking no notice of me an thinks the doc was useless. HELP

[andy-hughes]

It's part of the thrill of puberty to know that at fifteen, your parents know nothing, and to discover at twenty - they have learned a heck of a lot in five years!

All you can do for any child in any situation is to lay it out for them, and hope they listen.

Initially of course, they don't, until enough time has passed for sensible advice to appear to be something they thought of on their own.

Any time he moans about feeling tired etc., gently remind him of the doc's advice, but keep the doc's name out of it - as though it's something you just thought of. it wil get through in the end - takes a lot of patience.

[bednobs]

did you go in with him?

[Cowtipper]

How many total hours does he sleep when he goes to bed?

[jonah hart]

Thanks andy :) Yes i went with him and he'd get around 8 hours normally but if he's asleep before 1 then thats goos an he does wake up alot during the night. He really thought he'd get sleeping tablets! And if i say something he doe'sant want to hear then well forget it.

[daffy654]

I don't know why he thought he would get sleeping tablets, lots of doctors won't prescribe them for adults, let alone for children!

[Quassia]

Hi jonah,
is he in to keeping fit? Does he own weights ect..? If he hasn't , why not buy him some weights and let him exercise so he's burning some energy up & may be he'll sleep better? http://www.argos.co.u...bbells%7C14419310.htm

[Cowtipper]

I'd rule out diet first. Energy drinks, sodas, junk food with artificial flavors and colors are all terrible. What does he do when he wakes up in the night and how long is he up?

[flicrat]

Sorry to hijack your thread jonah but just want to ask daffy if at the Walkers on Saturday.Further to your dilemma, just had 16 year old grandson staying and had forgotten a) how difficult it is to get teenage boys up in the morning and b)how difficult it is to get them into bed in the first place!! We did watch DVDs together during the evening and then he had a hot chocolate and I left him to it about 11pm. Of course, he was on holiday,so could afford to be late,but after he realised we had early mornings for outings, he did go to bed soon after 11pm.

[sara3]

what does he do when he wakes? does he go to the loo? put the light on? read? music?

and do you know this to be true, or are you taking his word for it?

[karenmac60]

He probably won't try it or like it, but Chamomile tea with honey in it doesn't taste too offensive and it does help you wind down. Doesn't knock you out but I always feel a lot more relaxed and calm after some which helps.

[Hopkirk]

A good old hot milky drink last thing at night (Horlicks is excellent)

[Buenchico]

To what extent is your son's lack of sleep actually a problem?

When I was 15 I was obsessed with listening to short wave radio stations from all over the world. I never went to bed before 3am (if at all) but I still survived school and passed my exams. If the lack of sleep isn't causing any great problems it might not be worth bothering about.

However the advice I recently heard regarding insomnia (on Radio 4) is that if you can't get to sleep you should simply give up trying. Get up and make a cup of tea, read a book, listen to some music or whatever else you fancy doing. Then only go back to bed when you actually feel like sleeping.

Chris

[tamborine]

Key him up in his room with his homework. Dont stock up with food, just a loaf & jam available.

8h is plenty of sleep so dont worry but dont let him gorge on food at night.

[rcontrerask]

lala

[karenmac60]

You again?

[Cowtipper]

I drink hot chocolate mixed with coffee when I have to stay awake. I don't think the caffeine will help.

[mazzywoo]

Hi Jonah
My 14 year old grandson is going through this too. He would get up after the rest of the family went to bed, to play games on the computer. He would eat bowls of cereal, sarnies etc (plates all over the floor as evidence!) and text his mates. Then my daughter would have trouble getting him up for school in the morning. She took him to the doc because he seemed to worrying about something but it didn't help. Apparently he would have to ask for help himself if he was feeling stressed! In desperation, my daughter confiscated his phone, took away his bedroom telly and disabled the internet connection. Of course, this made him more resentful than ever!
He has improved now and has gone back to playing football, goes out with his mates etc and this outdoor exercise seems to have helped a lot. He still has occasional 'all-nighters' but he is a lot better.
Good luck with your boy-hopefully it's a 'phase' he's going through!