It takes my toddler over an hour to fall asleep for nap and bedtime. What the fuck am I doing wrong

I do my best to get his fucking energy out all day long and it just seems to rile him up more and I do my best to do the cool down calm down and bedtime stories etc but nothing works for this child and I'm starting to worry that he has mental health problems because he can't turn his brain off and I've taught him how and I keep doing it every night. I'm getting worried that I'm screwing up his sleep. He sleeps well otherwise once he's out he's out for like 12 hours every night or more

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Does he get screen time? Does he have a structured way to burn energy? “Heavy work” and proprioceptive input can help calm some kids.

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How old specifically? What are his wake up time and nap times?

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Regarding screen time it's not very predictable but for the most part if he asks for it after daycare I will give him a little bit while I'm trying to prep dinner it is kind of a lifesaver or I will have a show play on audio only and not the screen and that sometimes comforts him where he can multitask and flip through a book or do a mindless activity while listening to his show. And definitely Friday nights is traditionally movies and popcorn. So the pattern for screen time has been a few times or last during the weekdays before dinner if I'm totally exhausted and definitely some on Friday nights and the weekends but I'm always trying to watch with him. I'm a single mom so it does allow me to get some stuff done and take a breather if I need to

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That sounds so exhausting, honestly, no wonder you’re starting to worry. It’s really clear you’re putting a lot of effort in to help him settle. From what you’ve said though, this doesn’t necessarily sound like a mental health issue. Some kids just have really busy little brains, especially at night, and when they’re overtired it can actually make them more wired instead of calm.
The fact he sleeps really well once he’s out (12+ hours!) is actually a great sign. It sounds more like he struggles to switch off, not stay asleep. And all the calming stuff you’re doing, stories, wind-down time, that is the right thing! You’re not messing this up at all, even if it feels like nothing’s working.
Sometimes kids like this just need a slightly different angle, like giving their brain something quiet to focus on (we ask my nephew to tell himself a story in his head, an audiobook, soft music), keeping bedtime the same but not too forced, if they know they need to sleep they can find it harder!

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Maybe kids melatonin if your ok with it

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This sounds exhausting! Our son is 15 months and takes 45min-1.5 hrs to fall to sleep. I asked my friends and their kids around the same age are the same, so I thought this was normal. He doesnt self-settle at all. Alone, he screams. How long are other kids taking??

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Maybe some magnesium

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