Is there anything I can take to keep me awake?

[rileyhaspiley]

DS has started getting up at 2.30am. Asleep around midnight. It seems to be a new thing

Won't go into too many details but I can't change it. He's on medication which hasn't helped

Can anyone advise me something I can take to give me a kick? Here's the thing... I get dangerously tired. So an example is I'll be sat watching him and then nod off accidentally! Waking up 10 mins later

It is horrendous but I need to stay awake. Any tips? Cocoaine?

Bump

Make a cup of coffee? I go to a different room for night feeds and drink cols water - but my Ds goes back to sleep so don't need to stay up

Espresso?

How old is he?

@Abcdefu if only it was night feeds related. It isn't

I absolutely hate coffee. Does it really work at keeping you going from early hours?

He's 4.5 years, on medication for it but not helping

A bright overhead light will wake you up. Unpleasant but it works, maybe pop in a different bright room for a second until your body gets the message.

@PurpleishDahlia

A bright overhead light will wake you up. Unpleasant but it works, maybe pop in a different bright room for a second until your body gets the message.

We go downstairs to the living room (and the light is on because DS switches it on)

In the short term, ProPlus caffeine tablets. You should tend to a lower dose because if you don't drink coffee you'll be more sensitive to it.

@CharacterForming why can't I use them long term? Reviews look good

[quote rileyhaspiley]@CharacterForming why can't I use them long term? Reviews look good [/quote]
Caffeine is a powerful drug. Prolonged high doses can cause irregular heartbeat and seizures.

ProPlus isn't dangerous - if you take it in moderation it's just the same as taking a couple of coffees and countless millions of people do that for decades with no ill effects.

But chronic lack of sleep is dangerous. And getting up at 2:30 every morning will damage your health even if you catch up with naps later in the day.

Do you have work the next day?

Is this just to keep you up in the middle of the night?

What kind of child is he? Would he sit quietly in bed with you watching his ipad while you dose off? Does he need constant attention and supervision?

Can you sleep during the day if he's at school/nursery so you can catch up on sleep?

It really sucks, at her worst DD had a period of still being up at 12/1 am and back awake and ready to go at 5/6.

Thanks for the replies. Sadly he wouldn't ever sit quietly whilst I go back to sleep

My son needs constant supervision. Really constant

I am waiting on a school place (special school), and not got any respite in place yet. Waiting on panel. But it'll only be 10 hours a week and I'll need it to spend time with DD (a baby)

I am 23 and I definitely look late 30's

That really is unsustainable. Are you getting any help from anyone? A partner? GP? Sure Start(?). As pp said - you can’t get by on just 2.5 hours sleep per night. It will affect your health and is dangerous. Go back to your doctor to see if there is anything else your son can be prescribed. Melatonin?

@DownWhichOfLate He's on the highest dose of melatonin

Unfortunately nobody is really interested. Various support services, including children with disability team (part of social services), all know. They aren't really interested or concerned

I can think of a few things I took when I was a student- you'd need to go to a dodgy pub to get them though!

Could you look at a safe space bed for him? They aren't cheap but there is funding you can apply for. They are massive, but essentially keep him in a safe area at bedtime so he can be awake, but not at risk of hurting himself.
www.safespaces.co.uk/

Where abouts do you live? If you are in Scotland could Sleep Scotland help?
sleepscotland.org/

Magnesium supplement? www.sleepfoundation.org/magnesium

It’s worth a try perhaps?

You mention you, DS and baby DD. Is there anyone else in the house in the evenings? If it's you who has to get up at 2 30, ideally you need to find a way to go to sleep before DS - even if that means going to bed at 8pm.
Short term: cold, fresh air, sugar, caffeine, excerise. Long term, 2 5 hrs a night probably isn't sustainable for you.