Son has a hard time going to sleep

[tonyd1969]

Does anyone have a method to kinda help him relax before bed?
We have tried to make it as quiet and relaxful for him but it seems like an hour or so before he falls asleep.

[tonyd1969]

I tried the milk w/ovaltine last night and he didn't really have a problem at all falling asleep.So far so good but my son tends to binge on things he likes till he can't stomach anymore so i figure maybe try to change it up a bit so he doesn't get sick of it....thank you for the suggestions everyone.

[specialmom]

Can you put a little choc in the milk?  I do that for my son (he has warm milk---  white or choc) every night.  Routine is key for us too, as you said.  If we get out of routine, it is harder.  Good luck.  And the fan (or music) for background noise has been great.

[tonyd1969]

Believe it or not..thats what i told my wife last night.It actually works for me so i figured it could for him.The thing is trying to get him to drink without chocolate chip cookies to accompany the milk.

[kimlil]

have you tried warm milk

[Sandman2]

   Reading is a great idea.  Just gotta make sure he doesn't get so into the book he's up till midnight.  In that sense you reading to him might be a good idea.  
  Anything by Shel Silverstein or Roald Dahl is great.  These books are funny and not real long.  Personal favorite of mine to read was "Lafcadio, the lion who shot back" by Silverstein.
  Hatchet by Gary Paulson, is a great adventure book for this age group.  Your son's teacher may have other good ideas.
  Music, besides soothing, also masks some of the other house sounds that might keep him awake.
   Good Luck

[tonyd1969]

He is 10 going on 18...he knows everything bout everything.Has ADHD/OCD and he is such a great kid.

[Sandman2]

How old is your son?

[tonyd1969]

We have a really heavy comforter at home..i will try it.I am also thinking i should try reading something to him or maybe playing him some soothing muzak to get him to unwind somehow.Thank you for your response,hope it helps him.

[specialmom]

Some kids really like deep pressure.  You could take the couch cushions off and have him lay on the floor and then gently push the pillows on him.  Or you can roll an exercise ball over him.  Or you can roll him up in a blanket.  We have names for these things (sandwich, steamroller, and burito) and my son likes it.  It soothes him.  My younger son (without a delay) does NOT like it----  you'll know quickly if the deep pressure is helpful.  Something weighted can be relaxing.  Weighted blankets are out there but can be expensive.  We have a weighted pad (4 pounds/ my son is almost 6) that he holds and we rock (he still likes that motion) and then sometimes when he is falling asleep we place it on his chest-----  then I slip in and remove it once he is asleep.  Bathes are soothing too.  We don't do too much running around before bed time but do do things like he will push a basket with things in it to give it weight across the floor or animal walks (bear, crab, snake) etc.  We do that about an hour or more before bed time but not too close to it.  A fan helped for white noise.  Anyway, we actually are having a much easier time of it and part of the key for us is doing activity earlier in the day.  good luck!