7 Year Old Getting to Sleep Problems

[Deb1987]

My 7-year old foster daughter used to be a good sleeper - go to sleep within 5-10 minutes of going to bed and stay asleep except for perhaps 1 or 2 trips to the bathroom. (By the way, she has been our foster daughter for over 1.5 years and has her own bedroom. There are no other children in the home.) But over the past couple of weeks, her trips to the bathroom have increased and she now gets up 3-5 times to tell of things after she has been put to bed. As a family to tuck her in bed, say prayers, kiss good-night, then we have her go the bathroom and I kiss her good-night again with a little snuggling (about 1-2 minutes). But within 5 minutes she is up to the bathroom and/or up to tell us something about her day or that she can't go to sleep. We have counseled her that it is her job to get her to sleep and have shared some ideas (counting numbers, doing the alphabet, thinking about the waves on the ocean - all in her head, and saying a prayer). We have quietly walked her back to bed without saying anything and tucking her back in. This past week we even started a chart where she has to keep track of how many times she gets up and if it is 3 or less, there will be a reward (such as going someplace special, watching a special movie with us, or perhaps have a friend over for a sleep over). But it is not working. Any suggestions?


This discussion is related to New Sleep Problems in 7-Year-Old.

[margypops]

What time does she go to bed ? is it possible she is not tired if it is early, maybe you could read her a couple of bedtime stories, it sounds as if she is lonely and it is quiet at night, if she cant sleep how about you let her l;ay in bed for a bit and read another book .You sound as if you are doing the right thing in taking her back to her room but perhaps if she is feeling a bit lonely or anxious you could be flexable on the time she goes to bed. Does she get on well at school and nothing else is bothering her?Does she get quality time with you .