CM Club - Advice on Parents plz

[mrspotatoehead]

I have a 2.8yr mindee who is forever tired. He sleeps for a couple of hrs in the morning and then again in the afternoon. I was talking about it to another CM who mentioned if the parents smoked drugs. I know they drink alot and smoke tobacco but unsure about the drugs, but said I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't (if you knew the parents like I do you would say this). She said she had read recently that this does effect the child, she's going to try and find this info just wondered what anyone elses views/opinions where.

gut feeling suggests that if they smoke dope or the like around mindee he'll get doped too. I know that second hand dope smoking usually put me to sleep so I'm sure it'll have a similar effect on a wee one.

If you are concerned about the child maybe inform social?

I'd be worried if I knew my CM was making judgement on my lifestyle and assuming I smoked dope based on second hand gossip and the fact that I smoked cigs!

Smoking cigs is legal as is drinking, and how do you know they smoke and drink 'alot'? you aren't there at night with them after all.

If your mindee is tired then ask the parents what his nighttime sleep is like - a child of that age still needs 12 hours of sleep - if he has disturbed nights for any reason he may well need to catch up.

If they say he sleeps well at night, check exactly how long he sleeps for - they may think 11pm - 8am is sleeping well but that would still leave him short on sleep. Don't pass judgement on what they tell you - plenty of toddlers still have sleeping problems and wake 3-4 times a night at the age of 2 or 3.

DON'T for heavens sake report a family to SS based on the fact that they have a sleepy toddler!

My first thought, if you think that he is unnaturally tired, would be that maybe he doesn't sleep well at night or that he might be unwell (anaemia?)

Parents tend to tell me if their child isn't sleeping well, but I would still mention to them that you are surprised/concerned about his sleepiness.

Having said that, I do know of other toddlers who sleep a lot, and there is certainly nothing wrong with them.