tired 4 year old

[lulabella2002]

hi my daughter(nearly 4) is always tired.she sleeps about 12 hours every night and sometimes has an afternoon nap too.when she gets up in the morning she complains of tiredness after 30 mins or so.she also looks tired as she gets dark circles under eyes and also red eyes.as the day progresses we start to notice 'tired behaviour' and she gets grumpier and grumpier. she cries when she needs to walk anywhere and sometimes,when not at nursery(she goes there weekday am) will want to sleep at 11am.igot referred to a paed but bloods just came back normal.anyone got any thoughts?

[3littlefrogs]

There is more to a paediatric assessment than blood tests - go back to GP again. What about appetite, diet etc? Try anafternoon nap every day for a couple of weeks and see if that helps. What about her growth / height/ weight? Does she drink a lot or complain of excessive thirst? You sound worried and not reassured by the results you have been given so far. Is she happy at nursery or could this be anxiety? If your gut feeling is that you are still worried, then keep asking your GP for help. GPs generally assume that if you don't go back, then all must be ok.

[brimfull]

It could be a food intolerance that's causing the tiredness.Definately go back to gp.

[3littlefrogs]

Has GP listened very carefully to her chest?

[Mercy]

SHe does sound more than just normally tired. It's the last part of your post that concerned me (cries when she needs to walk etc)

How is her diet, does she eat well and enough of the right stuff?

Agree with 3littlefrogs, you should go back to your GP if extra sleep and different diet doesn't work.

[lulabella2002]

hi height and weight are ok(75 centile) she is slim though .her diet is ok. she is not a good eater but we encourage healthy eating.she does get some sweets but only if enough healthy food is eaten.she not excessively thirsty-so i dont think diabetic.did wonder about food intolerance and tried lactose free diet for 3 weeks with no obvious improvement.went to osteopath on wed to see if it helps (my baby goes anyway) and she what should i be said maybe to try food intolerance testing.if i go back to paed what tests should i be asking for? i don't want her to be subjected to numerous tests -are anyone elses children tired like this?also she does have a slight heart murmour only just audible i think.

[3littlefrogs]

I did wonder about a heart murmer - has it been properly investigated? Many heart murmers cause no problem at all - I have one myself and it is fine, but actually wasn't properly checked out until I was in my twenties. But I do think they should always be checked by a paediatric cardiologist.

[Galmum]

This is a personal view point, but if this is a change for your daughter , even if it's been a gradual one, I think to need to get some answers. Definately go back to your GP and start to be a nuisance (politely!) and get all avenues explored. Find out exactly what blood tests they ran. I would advise getting the heart mumour checked out. Keep pushing for answers until she shows signs of getting back to her old self.

If progress is slow, or you feel she is not starting to pick up, or as a mother feel something is "not right" don't suppress your natural instinct. Take your dd to the nearest A&E in a large hospital to get it checked out. I don't know what part of the country you live in but try to choose one that has a paediatric A&E section or atleast a reasonable size paediatric department. Don't feel guilty or that you are making a fuss....the doctors will be more specialist and probably will run a wider spectrum of tests that your GP...also you will get an answer quicker.

PLEASE PLEASE don't think I'm saying anything is significantly wrong with your dd...she probably is fine, maybe has had a virus that has knocked her out or has a food intolerance etc but from your description you need to get it checked out and put your mind at ease.

I hope that has n't worried you...better to be cautious.

[Galmum]

Lulabella2002

How are things going?? Hope daughter is getting better. Worried that I sounded a bit heavy handed and may have scared you too much.

Get in touch if you get the chance.xxx

[RhianonS10]

Hi my daughter is exactly the same did you get any answers. I hope ur daughters ok xx