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Adoption

Sleepwalking?

11 replies

Bananaketchup · 30/11/2013 20:39

hi all, haven't posted for ages - I've been reading and trying to keep up with what's going on with people here, in between coughs, colds, norovirus, school visits, HV, useless SW, other useless SW, LAC review, tantrums, spitting, kisses, cuddles - all the usual stuff I think!

Not even sure if this is an adoption question, but DD (5, home since mid September) had just come downstairs, having negotiated her tip of a bedroom, opened the stairgate and walked down the stairs in the dark. She had eyes open and was talking but what she was saying didn't make sense - she was saying she didn't like how the light shines on the bottom of the stairs, which if course she can't see from her room and anyway the hall light was off. I said it was bedtime and tried to get her to hold my hand and go back up but she kept walking into the lounge - but when I said her name she'd turn and come back, then do it again. After a few times she came back up with me and got back into bed no problem. It kind of spooked me - she's occasionally called me from the top of the stairs if she's heard a noise or something, but nothing like this. Is this sleepwalking, dissociating, what? Anyone had similar?

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magso · 30/11/2013 21:15

Ds used to do this- still does occasionally(14 now) We classed it as night terrors, as he often appears frightened. He has no memory of it in the morning. It started about age 5. Curiously his very delayed speech sounded more mature although completely it still spooks me!

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Magslee · 01/12/2013 11:19

It might be sleepwalking - I did it as a child and still do. People say I have my eyes open and sometimes reply to them but sometimes make no sense. Sometimes I remember and sometimes I don't. What she said about the hall light may be just her brain trying to make sense of why she was somewhere she didn't expect to be. If she wakes up out of bed she'll probably be a bit confused. It sounds like you did exactly the right thing - gentle reassurance and leading back to bed.

If you think it is sleepwalking it's probably worth just talking to her about it and explaining it is something that some people do and is nothing to worry about. It often happens when a person is anxious, excited or in an unfamiliar place so if it is something that keeps happening it's worth keeping an eye on what might be on her mind. When my DS arrived I was up sleepwalking round the house every night with the worry of it all - he slept like a log!

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Moomoomie · 01/12/2013 17:46

Hi banana, have been thinking of you and wondering how you were getting on.
No advice on the sleepwalking, mine are all wide awake and yelling for us in the middle of the night!
Sounds like you did the right thing, reassuring, back to bed.

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neolara · 01/12/2013 17:52

My ds (6) sleepwalks. The first couple of times he did it, it was quite unnerving. It wasn't totally obvious that he was asleep as his eyes were wide open and he responded to what we said. He was just weird. He ran down the corridors, turned taps on, ran to another part of the house, ignored what we said etc. He has absolutely no recollection of anything in the morning. It's been going on for about a year now. Somehow he manages to negotiate the stairs without any problem. It freaks out the babysitters. Apparently, it will pass.

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Bananaketchup · 01/12/2013 20:23

Seems like probably sleepwalking then. DD says she doesn't remember it. It freaked me out, her appearing in the hall so quietly and being slightly odd! She is anxious about starting school so it makes sense. From children who slept like the dead 12 hours a night the first 4 weeks I now have sleepwalking to add to the sleeptalking, random waking, toy throwing, bedswapping - and the occasional time where neither does anything, just to keep me on my toes!

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Thepoodoctor · 01/12/2013 20:37

My adopted big un who is now 7 has always had the odd sleepwalk, more so when he's a bit confused and anxious. Exactly as you describe, apparently awake but not responding and being a bit odd. You do the right thing to lead gently back to bed, and don't worry about it - not thought to have any long term effects or be a signifier of anything. DH not adopted was an inveterate sleepwalker as a kid and is fine now. Obviously if she goes in for it big style then make sure potential hazards are sorted out.

The other night DS appeared downstairs stark naked.

'hello Mummy I am looking for some clothes.'

'what about your pyjamas?'

'yes! Pyjamas! Where are they?'

' didn't you have them on when you went to bed?'

'oh.'

He had sleepwalked to the loo, had a pee, taken his pyjamas off and wandered downstairs all without waking up ...

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Bananaketchup · 01/12/2013 20:49

She did it again right after I posted! This time stayed on the landing, when I went up she mumbled she was 'looking for...looking for...' and seemed slightly frustrated but not distressed. Held my hand and went back to bed as she did before. Both times she has seemed quite sweaty round her hairline, so maybe it follows a bad or anxious dream? As long as she gets enough rest I guess I'll get used to it, though now it makes me wonder if she has been awake every time she's climbed in my bed in the early hours, I'd assumed she was but maybe not always. Hey ho.

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AuditAngel · 01/12/2013 21:00

DD1 (6.5) does this regularly. The first time I hadn't twigged, but when I relayed her behaviour to DH, he realised immediately.

I got her to come and cuddle me (she was sweaty too) and she was straight off. Unfortunately she is getting too heavy (she s tall, wearing age 8) for me to carry her to be.

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namechangesforthehardstuff · 01/12/2013 22:21

Hello Banana.

Nothing at all useful to add as it's all been said but just glad to see you and hear that things are OK. I think that's what I'm hearing anyway...

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Bananaketchup · 03/12/2013 20:20

Hi namechanges we're okay thanks - I'm struggling with some behaviours (especially at the moment the nearly cooooooonnstaaaannt whiiiinniiiiiiiinnggggg from DD which drives me nuts!) but most of my challenges are with useless professionals more than DC which I think is not unusual!

Thanks all for the info re the sleepwalking, it's unnerving but as long as it doesn't distress DD I won't worry about it.

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Bananaketchup · 04/12/2013 19:45

Hmm, well talking to DD about it was clearly a mistake - 3 times so far tonight she has come down and when I've gone to her claimed she doesn't know what she's doing, when she is plainly awake. I have told her I know this. With days a bit tough atm and broken sleep, I am not going to do well if my 7.30-9.30pm one bit of respite goes as well. Fun times...