Is this how it's going to be...?

[RudyVonLasagne]

My beautiful ds (3) is being assessed for social/communication/language difficulties and it's a very difficult time, waiting for the results of all this to come through. I am constantly tearing myself up as to whether certain aspects of his behaviour are that of a normal 3 year old or whether they are due to his problems. The latest is that his usually fantastic sleep pattern is becoming more erratic, culminating in last night when he was awake from around 12.30am to 5.45am. He could not settle himself, constantly fidgeted, would not leave me alone and when I ended up in tears to due my tiredness, he laughed and tried to hit me (he has always had a problem with people crying). I just wondered how all you lovely people cope with erratic sleep like this ? Is it par for the course ? Does anyone have similar problems, and are there any ways of coping with it ? He is sparked out now and I have kept him off playgroup today as he must be shattered now.

Have to go and feed dd but will check later...

[deeeja]

Hi, this is what my ds does nearly every night. Last night he woke up from 11.30 till 3 am. I am just thankful for the four odd hours of sleep I have had.
I know how hard it is, and can sympathise, hugs to you. My ds is 2 and a half, and started this at around 12 - 14 months. I thought it was just a continuation of baby type sleep patterns at the time, then I blalmes it on baby ds waking him up,and now that baby is sleeping through, it is really wearing. A friend of mine told me about melatonin, I haven't asked for a prescription yet, but after last night, I am tempted!My ds has been dxed with gdd and asd. It is exhausting! It doesn't help either, with the many 'helpful' hints I have had, including from a health visitor to put him to bed later, to not go to him in the night(how can you ignore a small child for 4 or 5 hours at night,fgs?)
My ds laughs when I cry aswell.
Sorry for rambling post, I don't know if that was helpful to you.
You are not alone with these problems, I am right there with you!
Take care,x

[deeeja]

P.S If you find a way to cope with the sleepless nights, please let me know!
I usually get dh to go to him aswell on odd nights.
Apart from that I fall asleep all the time, anywhere.

[shiny1]

My 13 yr old dd is up most of the night usually screaming,my 2 yr old ds gets up too.I dont know how the other kids sleep through it all.I get up cos my dh has work.I often feel like crying and i think im on automatic pilot most of the time.I hope it gets better for you soon,sending you hugs.

[RudyVonLasagne]

Thanks deeeja and shiny1 for your supportive comments. It feels very lonely in the middle of the night when you are desperate to sleep and you are being constantly prodded, kicked etc. He has slept so well up until a few weeks ago and seems to have suddenly flipped a switch. DD is not much better although she has always been a bad sleeper. I had them both up at 1am last night - DD asking for Spongebob and DS rattling his cars. I just feel like I can't be a proper mum when I am tired like this.