My daughter has never been able to put herself to sleep. I have always thought as she got older she would grow out of it. Now that she is 7 I continue to spend anywhere from 1-2 hours while she falls alseep. Often we end up arguing or one of us in tears. I am at my witts end. She claims to be afraid of being alone? I am ready to try therapy. Can anyone recommend a good therapist?
There is a book I love regarding sleep, and it covers newborns up into preteen/teen years. Why don't you flip through it next time you are in the bookstore, just to see if it will help. By Marc Weisbluth, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Sorry I can't offer any more help, but this is really a great book. Good luck.
Most of the books that address sleep issues are specific to children under age 6. At her age, sounds like you're doing the right thing by seeking a therapist. The woman who was our instructor at a Parenting with Love and Logic class is a private family therapist. This should be right up her alley. Amy Watson ###-###-####.
Good luck!
Christian Counseling Associates
http://www.counselgodsword.com/
I trust Mr. Dickerson from here and would see if someone in this office works with children.
K.
I'll respond with a different perspective than others as my kids are now older and my younger son (now 11) also seemed to have this same "problem". I looked at it from the perspective that since our kids grow up so fast, it really didn't seem that he was asking too much for me to stay with him for a little while at nite. When he was your daughter's age, I would have to stay till he fell asleep. Yes, it's tough, but he has grown to be an extremely independent child (by day), does well in school, is liked by his friends, etc, so I can't see that it's had a negative impact. Indeed, by providing the reassurance that he seemed to need at home at nite, he seems to have done better during the day than alot of kids. With my youngest now 11, I still tuck my boys in on most nites (my oldest is 13 1/2), but the ritual is dramatically shorter than it was 4 years ago. I only stay with him (often not even till he falls asleep) about one nite a week and he has grown to understand my need to not do this so often. So, I suggest you try to start negotiating with your daughter (for your staying less time and perhaps less frequently), letting her know that you're there if she really needs you, but that you're tired too and want to fall asleep in your own bed, so you can get a good nite's sleep (the problem I had when my son was your age is that I would sometimes fall asleep with him all cramped in his bed and then wakeup at 2 am and wandering creakily to my own bed).
