OK so who else is surviving on an average of 4 hours sleep a night with no sign of let up

[Jimjams2]

I need to feel as if I have comrades

[BarefootDancer]

Oh, endless sleep deprivation is torture. I hope you can find some way to get some respite. Is there someone else who can do one end of the night, or give you a break sometimes?

[tobysmumkent]

Message withdrawn

[PeachyClair]

you know what Sam is like, and Harold is no better these days. I slept from 3am until 5.39 (see how preceise? sigh)last night, and had a very important presentation to do at uni-

Bloody impossible, I thought torture was illegal?

[Jimjams2]

It's true that getting a good night after a series of bad ones makes you more tired isn't it! Weird. I've been very lucky that we've got away quite lightly with sleep issues with ds1- and it's the same tobysmum- some of the children at ds1's school- I don't know how their parents (or in many cases mums- dad's done a runner) cope.

[Jimjams2]

PMSL fio- exactly. I was trying to say to my counsellor last night that it didn;t matter that I was only getting 4 hours sleep a night as I was still in the baby years with ds3 (although have to say generally he goes 11 hours). She wasn't buying it!

[Jimjams2]

ah no my counsellor has something like 25 years of experience working with autistic kids and their families. She's great because she's heard it all before and makes me feel normal (sphil- my advice- take her up on her offer of counselling- you'll get one when you start your programme).

I'm going away (for work- a course) in a few weeks time- I am fully expecting to wake up at 4am every morning, wondering why I'm not being pinched

[Davros]

I had the best night's sleep I've had for ages last night..... and I feel utterly knackered today!! I HATE it, even if I can catch up in the daytime (which I can't often) I DON'T WANT TO!!! I want to sleep at night and live in the daytime like other people. Moan, groan, grrrr

[onlyjoking9329]

can i make you feel a little less lonely the really annoying thing is that when the kids and DH are asleep i just lay there wide awake i am often still awake at 4am then i get some sleep and have to be up at half six to have enough time to bath and dress all three kids and get then on school bus for 8.

[sphil]

JJ - I didn't realise that was part of the GM package - great! I thought K was one of the most sensible, switched on people I'd ever met when we did the course. It'll be good because I'm obviously giving up my counselling here when we move and have been thinking how much I'll miss it.

[mymatemax]

I haven't read all the posts, too bloody tired but yes certainly sleep deprived here too!
DS2 is awake between 3am & 5am almost every night & always those nights when dh is at work. I'm sure he knows!
It's torture.

[lourobert]

last night my ds went 8 hours, for the past 13 days he was only sleeping for 2.5 hours a night. Last night I had an awful cold and saw in every hour while my ds and dp slept- bloody typical!

[Jimjams2]

Grrr- well I had big plans to get to bed by 9pm tonight. And ds1 has only just gone to sleep. It's a conspiracy!

[Davros]

Hard as it is, espeically when you are very tired, I've always had a rule that they DO NOT come to our room/bed during the night. I always go to them and I will sit up as long as it takes. So that is why my top MN tip is to have a comfy chair in your child(ren)'s bedroom if at all possible. It is a sacrifice when you are wrecked with tiredness but it is worth it in the long run (preach over).

[anniebear]

I hate it when the girls goes to bed (7/7.30) and I feel I should go to bed then also to get some sleep before Ellie wakes

Then people say "why not have a sleep in the day2 But as said, I dont want to sleep in the day1 Plus it makes me feel worse

and Fio, I was only looking in the car mirror this morning and thought "ugggh, I look and feel about 70"!!

I am old and haggard and only 35

and then if another Mum of a perfectly healthy 1 or 2 year old tells me "Oh I know how you feel"

aggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh

One day I feel I will reach break point and yell at them "No you don't"

[anniebear]

when I am feeling brave Davros, I will try that one. Well DH can!! lol he will sleep anywhere!!!

waffling now, but why do other parents all feel they have to tell you they know how you feel?

Anything you say they reply "Oh mine are like that too"

Partic with sleep but behaviour also

Its almost like it makes them feel better to say their NT child is like yours also

Sorry, waffling away on your thread JJ!!!!!

[anniebear]

and why everytime I read the posts do I have to watch a baby having its bum cleaned on the right!!!!! lol lol

[coppertop]

That baby's still there.

Did anyone follow the link in the MN newsletter about tips on getting a good night's sleep? This one Lavender oil and Horlicks at the ready everyone?



(Sorry MNHQ but it made me laugh )

[mummy2aaron]

Me too JJ et al. DD wakes around 1am and finally settles at 3.30ish, just before ds2 starts the day at 4iah. Ds1 never gets any Mummy time so he stays up late until 9pm. That gives me between 9 and 1 to tidy up eat and sleep, never mind shower and wash my hair. If I don't get some sleep soon strangers will be thinking they are my grandchildren!

My friend said to me this morning aahhh well it seems bad but it doesnt last for ever enjoy them while they are young. wtf! This said with full make up on,well planned outfit ie not rushing to school in slippers, after a full 9 hours sleep.

[Jimjams2]

PMSL CT- Judi Reith needs to get her asrse over her and see how f helpful horlcks (bauk) would be

M2A- I thought of you when I started this thread- and anyone who says "it doesn;t last forever" to the mother of a child with SN deserved to have their head flushed down the toilet Grrrrr.

[Joggeroo]

It's awful being sleep deprived, even people saying they know how you feel or 'been there' doesn't help make it any better.
The only thing that has improved things for me is to never look at the clock in the night and never think about how much sleep I didn't get. deosn't stop me feeling knackered but does make me slightly less miserable about i!. sometimes when I'm driving I realise how tired I am and head home to avoid an accident!