My 5 and 4 year olds both like the Sleepy Time tea from Celestial seasonings. Unlike what a lot of people think the tea isn't supposed to put you to sleep, just help you relax enough so you can fall asleep. The Sleepy Time Extra with valerian root will put you to sleep. I have not tried the extra with my girls. But they do also like the chamomile and honey vanilla chamomile from Celestial seasonings. Valerian root is natural and in a lot of sleep aids OTC and prescription ones. There are also some melatonin free sleep aids for kids. I did try one with my girls and it didn't help them but I might try a different brand. Is there something in his room you could change to help him sleep better? Play music or white noise or may turn off what is on. Maybe adjusting the temperature or light in the room? what about spraying is pillow or sheets with a Lavender essential oil spray? There are other oils you could try too.
Kid friendly magnesium lotion, I get some from this Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/204596004/
I agree with Kelly’s ideas: is there anything that could be changed in the room? Here are a few things we do to help our son: - we keep a sound machine and fan on to mitigate noise & make sure the room has air circulating - blackout curtains keep the room dark (we also have the kind that dampens noise… we live on a fairly busy street) - any light in the room is red colored. Red light is the least stimulating, so his nightlight is set to red for sleep hours. I got one that has multiple colors at Home Depot. - the door to his room stays cracked open since that helps him feel more secure. I read about how kids’ sense of security can impact their sleep, esp times of transition (new baby, new bed, etc). I know it’s tough… esp with a newborn impacting YOUR sleep. You got this!
@Shimah thank you!
@Kelly it isn’t that he has trouble falling asleep. He’s just very restless and seems tired a lot. We use a sound machine, black out curtains and keep fan on. He has a stuffed animal with lavender and he hates it haha. He’s very sensitive. 😔
@Aryn yes we are doing all those things! Sound machine, fan, blackout curtains, door cracked… arg. He isn’t waking us up he’s just ALL over his bed and wakes up tired 😔
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Is it worth trying to scoot bedtime up by an hour? My 4 yo has been through an incredible growth spurt and I had to do this. It’s paradoxical, but when he is overtired, he does not sleep as well. Once I fixed that, his sleep was much better.
@Erica we really try - it is so hard! But yes I think that would probably help. We like to eat dinner as a family but if I fed him earlier and got him to bed I’m sure it would make a difference.
@Beth I hear you- it really is! I wish I had an easy solution. I hope he gets through this bump in the road soon and goes on to more restful nights.
Weighted blanket?