9pm and he's wired, then he's up at 6 exhausted and dysregulated all day. We've tried earlier dinner, no screens after 7, the lot. Brain just won't switch off. At my absolute wits' end.
5 replies
Jen R
24 January 2026
Two things that helped us: a consistent wind-down ORDER (same steps every night) and magnesium after chatting to our GP. The predictability did more than the timing.
James C
25 January 2026
Weighted blanket + audiobook in the dark. The audiobook gives his brain one thing to land on instead of 47. Took a couple weeks to become the habit.
Dr_mum_ot
25 January 2026
OT here (and an ADHD mum). Look at the hour BEFORE the meltdown, not bedtime itself — often the dysregulation starts earlier and bedtime just shows it. Heavy work / proprioceptive input an hour before can take the edge off.
Tanya G
25 January 2026
The 'look an hour earlier' point just unlocked something. He's been doing screens right up til wind-down. Going to shift that. Thank you.
Rachel F
26 January 2026
Also: melatonin is worth a GP conversation if you're truly stuck. Not a first resort but it gave us our evenings back when nothing else worked.
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