4YR OLD SLEEP ISSUES - Anyone been reffered to Peadiatrics?!

[DanJARMouse]

I took DD1 to the doctors today as a last resort on her sleeping issues. The doc was really nice and dictated a letter there and then to refer her to Peadiatrics to see a specialist.

My main question is, what will they do when we get an appointment? Anyone know?

Feel a little bit emotional now in case Im going to be putting my little sleep avoiding monkey through hell at the hospital!

[Nemoandthefishes]

had a friend whose DS was 3 and not sleeping. His refferal resulted in him being put on medication that apparently was herbal but it got him in to a pattern of sleeping

[DanJARMouse]

thanks nemo - im hoping we can get something that will get her into a proper pattern, but im scared of ritanol!

[TheGashlycrumbTinies]

What are her main sleep problems? I only ask as we have problems with our soon to be 4 year old, and resolve them by allowing her to sleep in our bed.
Our HV didn't seem unduly stressed with this and said "well, if you lived in Japan or the Phillipines it would be normal."

Hope someone comes along with some advice for you soon. Sleep deprivation is soul destroying.

[DanJARMouse]

Mainly screaming the house down when its bedtime, pushing us to breaking point, and then waking anytime from 3am onwards asking to play.

She has slept later than 6.30am EVER in her life.

The neighbours hear her having meltdowns in the early hours, and ts a breaking point in our family now, especially as it isnt fair on DD2 or DS.

[TheGashlycrumbTinies]

The same here with DD2, she would completely scream the house down for hours, slam her wardrobe doors, throw things around the room, this would happen if we left her room.

The final straw came when she actually took the skin off her knuckles as she was banging so hard on the door to get out.

DD always said she was scared in her room, ghosts etc, and we could no longer let her carry on getting herself, and all of us in such a state. We don't know where some of her ideas came from, she only ever watches a bit of cbeebies and we can't think of any books that would upset her so.

That's when we spoke to the HV and also thought about the Millpond Clinic, we did try different strategies, but resigned ourselves to the fact that we will have a little one in bed with us for a while longer. At least we all get some much needed sleep now, and DD1 doesn't end up going to school exhausted.

Apologies if this is garbled, I'm in the middleof preparing supper, getting DD ready for guitar lesson, and getting the pup to go outside for a wee.

[DanJARMouse]

bless you boiled!

We have tried having her in with us, but even then she just fidgits and doesnt actually sleep.... result is me and DH are at each others throats, DD1 is so overtired her behaviour during the day is somewhat to be desired, and DD2 and DS are being disturbed by the constant screaming.

Roll on getting this appointment through - and seeing if essential oils tonight make a difference. We are off on holiday on monday and its not going to be much of a break for us otherwise!

[TheGashlycrumbTinies]

DJM, it is so hard isn't it, we would start to get wound up mid afternoon just thinking of the evening ahead of us.

Thankfully DH is an absolute star and very calm, and can cope with little sleep, he was a junior doctor back in the days when 72 hours on call with no sleep was the norm.

Hope you do get some answers and that you can enjoy your break, you obviously all need it.

[DanJARMouse]

Anyone in the evening crowd have any insight?!

[DanJARMouse]

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