What should I do about ds' lack of sleep?

[PersonalClown]

Ds is coming up for 5 (March)and I'm lucky if he sleeps for more than 8 hours a night.
I had hoped that starting school full time would calm him down, wear him out a bit and lead to a bit more sleep but nooo.
I must admit that he stays in his bedroom when i put him to bed but I can guarentee that most nights when I go to bed around 11pm he is still awake.
I am slowly but surely getting more and more run down as I am a single parent and my patience with him is wearing very thin.
I'd just like him to sleep a little bit longer. Any suggestions?

[coppertop]

Have you thought about trying melatonin? It will help him to fall asleep but will not necessarily keep him asleep though. A Paed can prescribe it or you can buy it online.

[PersonalClown]

Staying asleep's not a problem, he's like the dead when out. It's just the getting him there. How would I go about seeing a Paed? Ds hasn't seen one since he was dx-ed18 months ago.

[Tiggiwinkle]

We have the same problem here-DS5(aged 7) does not go to sleep until around midnight-or even later some nights. I am lucky however as both my DH and my adult sons are "night-owls" so I can leave them in charge and go to bed when I am tired. It must be awful if you are on your own-I agree that melatonin may be the answer for you. (We have not tried it yet but have heard good reports from those who do use it).

[PersonalClown]

It drives me insane. I went to bed last night just after 11pm and he was laying in the dark babbling to himself!!!
I think I need more sleep than he does!!
A trip to the GP may be in order, mines fabulous, I can talk to her about anything.

[mum24boyz]

we've had trouble with my ds4 sleeping since he was born, we had to stay in room with him till he went to sleep, thought i would try a diff tactic, bought them a tv/dvd for xmas, not something i would normally do for a 3+5 yr old, talk about backfired, he doesnt go to sleep till about 10 at night now, and is then still up around 7 with ds3, we just cant win can we, all i can say is if he at least stays in his room, can you not put a gate up to keep him in his room, and what is his dx just out of curiosity. i am going to ask about melaton at child development centre on tuesday, it has been mentioned before, they tell us we shouldnt stay in his room with him to get him to go to sleep, so they are gonna have to help him lol. i would ask the doc hun, its a natural hormone so its not like you are pumping him full of anything, must say i didnt know you could buy it online though, is it safe do you know coppertop, have you used it, am a bit dubious about things like that online but if they refuse to prescribe it might give it a go myself, for ds4 of course cos i sure as heck dont need it by the time i have settled him lol, so i know how you feel hun, and i am not on my own either with mine.

[PersonalClown]

Ds has learned to stay in his room because if he comes out for anything other than the toilet, I put him straight back!!
He was dx with ASD when he was 3 1/2.
He's now jumping around the room to Fallout boy's new single at the minute!!!
It's just the getting to sleep at a reasonable time that's the problem for ds and me.

[coppertop]

The GP should hopefully be able to refer you back to the Paed.

Melatonin worked miracles for ds2 (3.11yrs). He was regularly awake until 11pm, sometimes until 2am. With the melatonin he was asleep about 30-40 minutes after taking it.

[mum24boyz]

i dont have a dx for ds4 yet, but he is very hyper, asd has been mentioned but i dont think it is, but it seems to me from msgs i have seen that lack of sleep is common with asd, although i gather if your paed is anything like ours, you have to push for it, thats certainly what i would do, and will be doing, and tbh, my ds4 doesnt sound quite as bad as yours, its just hard work cos he keeps ds3 awake, who is asd but also likes his sleep at night, he prefers to rise early, which is why its such a pain. at least he knows to stay in his room, although of course thats not much comfort when you want to sleep cos i know i couldnt go to sleep and leave ds4 awake, he would have no room left in morning, good luck with doc hun.

[yearoftheox]

DS,age 10, ASD, listens to storytapes in bed - he's normally still awake when I go to bed about half 11 - I just turn it down a bit then, we're all used to it and it doesn't keep us awake.