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Post by peppapig on Jan 21, 2021 1:44:49 GMT -6
Question about sleep issues for ds, who will be 9 in a couple of months...
He has trouble falling asleep at night, and it’s been worse during the pandemic because - I think - of the lack of physical activity. He says he’s just not tired. I don’t think this was a big issue before the pandemic when he was going to school and playing sports, but honestly I don’t remember as my brain has turned into mush. We send him to bed between 8 and 8:30 and he’ll hang out til he falls asleep around 9:30/10...sometimes it’s earlier if he’s been particularly active that day. He will wake up between 7- 7:30. I guess my question is, is this normal for a kid to just not feel tired on a almost nightly basis? I will give him melatonin sometimes, but idk how often I can give it to him. Thanks for the help, ladies.
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Post by nevertoomanyshoes on Jan 21, 2021 2:23:40 GMT -6
If he’s not waking up tired or getting tired during the day that would indicate he’s getting enough sleep. If you let him “stay up” later does it take him the same amount of time to fall asleep?
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Post by donnamoss on Jan 21, 2021 2:32:09 GMT -6
I think 9-12 hrs is recommended for his age...so he’s actually doing ok.
DD1 is 9 and we usually send her to get ready for bed (weeknights) around 8ish and she reads for 15-30 minutes, sometimes longer if she’s at a riveting part in her book. Wakes up at 7 on weekdays, and 8-9 on weekends.
Does he sleep soundly? Is he tired upon waking? Seem lethargic during the day?
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leahcar
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Post by leahcar on Jan 21, 2021 5:13:38 GMT -6
It sounds like he may be getting enough sleep. I'd try to add some additional physical activity to his day and possibly push his bedtime back slightly. What's his bedtime routine? We had to take away screens (hard in a pandemic) quite a bit before bed to help our girls get enough sleep.
FWIW, melatonin is not addictive. At our doctor's urging, we're using it regularly for one of our girls and for rough sleep periods for the other two.
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rvasc
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Post by rvasc on Jan 21, 2021 6:23:07 GMT -6
I instituted an hour of outside time/active play when DD doesn’t see her friends (this happens naturally when she does), and it has done wonders for her sleep.
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abs
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Post by abs on Jan 21, 2021 6:41:28 GMT -6
My 10 year old gets about the same amount of sleep. She goes to bed around 8:30, reads for an hour, and gets up at 7. Sounds okay really unless he has a hard time in the mornings.
She definitely goes to sleep faster when she is playing sports so I am ready for her to get back in to them! Outside play doesn't have the same effect as a good soccer practice. I'm hoping by March we will feel more comfortable with it and get back into a routine.
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Post by calendula on Jan 21, 2021 7:46:50 GMT -6
It sounds ok to me. I mean, 9:30/10 is a later bedtime than my third grader would have, but if your kid doesn't need to wake up for school early than it sounds like enough. I don't think you can ever go wrong with more outside play time--its so important for so many reasons--but I wouldn't stress over the sleep.
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hawkward
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Loss, Infertility
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Post by hawkward on Jan 21, 2021 7:55:20 GMT -6
That’s very similar to my 9 yo boy’s schedule.
I don’t know what the weather where you live is like but at least an hour of sunlight (especially in the morning) will help regulate his body. If he can’t actually be outside, something like yoga near a window will help too.
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Post by peppapig on Jan 21, 2021 11:41:34 GMT -6
If he’s not waking up tired or getting tired during the day that would indicate he’s getting enough sleep. If you let him “stay up” later does it take him the same amount of time to fall asleep? No, not usually. If he stays up later than usual, or had a particularly physically rough day, then typically he'll fall asleep faster. Thank you!
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Post by peppapig on Jan 21, 2021 11:48:58 GMT -6
I think 9-12 hrs is recommended for his age...so he’s actually doing ok. DD1 is 9 and we usually send her to get ready for bed (weeknights) around 8ish and she reads for 15-30 minutes, sometimes longer if she’s at a riveting part in her book. Wakes up at 7 on weekdays, and 8-9 on weekends. Does he sleep soundly? Is he tired upon waking? Seem lethargic during the day? Ugh, stuck in box Yes, he reads before bed, too, about half an hour before we make him actually go to bed to calm him. He's groggy in the mornings, but during the day he is not lethargic. Thank you!
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Post by sweptaway on Jan 21, 2021 11:53:58 GMT -6
DS is 8.5 and lights out is 9:30 (give or take). We usually shower at 8:45 or 9 and then read for 20 minutes or so. He wakes naturally between 7 and 8. If I sent him to bed at 8 he definitely wouldn't be tired, but I'd encourage quiet time at that time anyway. Is he laying in bed awake from 8-9:30? If so I'd push back lights out time. So, I guess I'm not understanding your question. It sounds pretty normal to me and yes, we've found less screens and more outdoor activity make for better sleep (for all of us!).
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Post by peppapig on Jan 21, 2021 12:20:01 GMT -6
leahcar, rvasc, no screen time before bed...I cut that off before dinner. He reads before actual bedtime to calm him. His twin sister falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow, so that's my frame of reference, lol As for physical activity...yeah I do kick them out of the house for at least an hour, but he's not always "physical" b/c there's not much to do.
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Post by peppapig on Jan 21, 2021 12:23:42 GMT -6
abs, calendula, hawkward, hawkward, sweptaway,thanks...I guess I don't know if that was normal. We turn off lights between 8 and 8:30, and he reads for about 30 minutes before that. After reading, it's lights out so he is just chilling in his bed. It sounds like this may be normal, lol. I told leahcar and rvasc that his twin sister falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow and wakes up ready to rock and roll, so that's what I'm comparing him to, even though I know I'm not supposed to compare, lol
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rvasc
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Post by rvasc on Jan 21, 2021 12:25:45 GMT -6
leahcar, rvasc, no screen time before bed...I cut that off before dinner. He reads before actual bedtime to calm him. His twin sister falls asleep as soon as her head hits the pillow, so that's my frame of reference, lol As for physical activity...yeah I do kick them out of the house for at least an hour, but he's not always "physical" b/c there's not much to do. I got DD a pogo jumper, a swing, and roller skates. She can also do gonoodle indoor recess or yoga.
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Post by peppapig on Jan 21, 2021 13:43:54 GMT -6
rvasc, we just got a skateboard the other day, so hopefully he'll take to that and it'll wear him out!
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