my 8 year old daughter is very emotional and can't sleep

[charlotte468]

I t started at the start of the summer holidays. My daughter can't sleep during the night and im at my wits end. Shes always had a good routine and im still sending her to bed at 7pm as usual but she wont sleep. Shes said she has a tummy ache at night i have taken her to the doctor and the doctor has said it could be her hormones.
Shes still getting up at 6.30am.
If anyone has anyadvise id be very greatful thanku xxxx

[sara3]

so she gets up at 6.30am.. what time does she go to sleep? how many hours does she sleep?

7pm seems very early to go to bed.

[sammmo]

have you tried putting her to bed a little later.. Its summer, lighter in the evenings and there is no school so she won't be so mentally tired let her stay up till around 9pm for a few days to see if it makes any diference

[Robinia]

I agre with sara, could she not stay up until 9pm? Make sure the hour before bed is a quiet one.

[wolf63]

Could she be hungry or maybe her blood sugar is low? If my blood sugar levels are low I get weepy and agitated and can't sleep.

If nothing is bothering her it may be something simple that is causing it. I hope that you find a solution - school holidays are to be enjoyed. ;-)

[Jack130]

That's not good,putt her in bed at nine,she might sleep all night?Hope everything works out for you!!??

[yinyang]

With the exception of the tummy ache part, one of my eight year old daughters is just the same.

Durng the holidays her routine gets thrown. I still put the girls to bed at the usual time but let them read a bit longer but this turns into late nights despite my best efforts - you can't force them to sleep! Then she wakes up at her usual early time and after a few days of this starts to lose it - cries easily, sulks, whines; she's a pleasure to be around.

It's easier to deal with because we know it's lack of sleep causing her mood and at least one night a week we chuck'em in bed with no books or tape allowed and she seems to catch up on what she needs then.

Could she going through a growth spurt as well. This can affect my daughters sleep and lead to the mood changes as well.

Might not be much help, but at least you know somebody else goes through the same thing.

[saxy_jag]

You don't say how old she is. But if she's at school, then I'm guessing at least 5 or 6. I would agree with the others - try letting her stay up a little later. She will be doing so as she grows older in any case and the school holidays could be a could time to make the transition.

I seem to recall my own were going to bed around at around 8.00/8.30 at that age.

[Robinia]

saxy, she's 8 - see title of Q :o)

[charlotte468]

Thanku all very much i really apprciate u all taking the time 2 answer. Shes been falling asleep around 2.30am for the last 2 weeks. I've tried lavender baths, storys, massages.
Shes saying her tummy hurts so ive tried calpol, does anyone think it could be her hormones like the Dr suggested?.
Tonight i will let her stay downstairs with me till 9 and see if it works as i do agree she should be aloud 2 stay up later in the holidays.
Thanks again xxxx

[saxy_jag]

Whoop - didn't see that, Robinia. Should have done. Didn't.

[yinyang]

What time does she have dinner? If i had a very early dinner then by midnight ( or before) I'd be hungry again. Could this be causing the stomach ache?

I put my two to bed around 8 but set the timer on their i-pod so they can read and listen to music for an hour. after that they know it's lights out - doesn't stop them chancing their arm like all kid do.

[sara3]

I would be very surprised if it's her hormones, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

does her dad get home just before bedtime? does she eat dinner with you/her dad? does she have sweets/fizzy drinks in the afternoon/evening?

[Robinia]

Maybe she's just got into a cycle of not sleeping, even adults do sometimes. Try not to make a big thing of it. Let her stay up but not to play, the stories sound good, and don't mention the tummy ache unless she does. Maybe she did have a tummy ache one night & now she's expecting to have one everytime she goes to bed. If she complains of pain more often maybe it would be a good idea to go back to the doc. One of my granddaughters is 8, I know what they're like :o) Good luck.

[sara3]

I'd develop a tummy ache if I thought I could get a massage ;o)

seriously, tell her she's a big girl so she can stay up later in the holidays, if there is NO MESSING AROUND! trial it.. but 8-9pm is settling down time, no exciting tv programmes, no running around, no food or drink.. and if she does it without a fuss it can carry on through the holidays.

I can't think why she'd only have a genuine tummy ache at night time.

[charlotte468]

other than the holidays starting nothing in her routine has changed, she has dinner at the same time and the same amount of time with her Dad and me. I have been making sure shes mentally stimulated throughout the day and we've been doing lots of fun things, shes still seeing her school friends so its not because shes missing anyone. We talk about anything and everything and she honestly can't think whats stopping her sleeping.

[charlotte468]

ive tried bribary ie if she sleeps properly she can have 3 friends over for a sleepover. Ive tried playing down the fact shes not sleeping.........

[annie0000]

Is she worried about something that is keeping her awake and stressed? Might be worth a bit of gentle probing - sk her what she is thinking of before she goes to sleep. My son likes me to tell him something to dream about before he goes to sleep as he says it gives him good dreams and he gets to sleep quicker.

[karenmac60]

I remember being that age and being sent to bed when it was still light, I could hear other kids still out playing and I'd make a fuss because I felt sorry for myself - I thought the whole world was out having fun except me cos I had to go to bed. I know my daughter used to suffer from frequent tummy aches too, after she had one and was allowed to stay up late - suddenly she was developing them all the time. I'd let her stay up a little later - not reading in bed, but actually up, and don't make a fuss of the tummy thing unless you are genuinely concerned.