Kidney failure

[Castew]

My baby boy suffered from acute renal failure a couple of months ago (HUS) since having emergency dialysis and being in hospital seriously ill we are now home and he's doing so much better but Since coming home we have been struggling with him sleeping. He sleeps for no longer than 2 hours at a time. He is 1.5yrs old, we have spoke to the doctor who reckons he could have post traumatic stress from all he went through and to try controlled crying. I have 3 other children and have never had a trouble with nights. I'm just looking for some advise as my husband and I work full time and are now running on empty.

Are you ok with trying controlled crying? It comes in various forms but i wpuld have thought if your little boy has PTSD it would need to be approached with caution.

Does he still feed in the night? If so, its probably worth phasing that out unless he needs to for medical reasons?

Sleeping for no more than two hours suggests he hadn't learnt to self settle when he comes out of a sleep cycle - he literally needs to learn to roll over and go back to sleep. What do you currently do to settle him? Would you/he sleep better he was in bed with you (or next to you in a cot)?

Just before he became ill he would settle about 7:30 after his bottle in his own room.

Then he became sick and routine was all thrown away.

He seams to still wake around the same times he was being woken in the hospital from when they were taking obs and bloods.

We haven't tried controlled sleeping yet as I'm unsure.

He is still on medication for his blood pressure but that's all.

We do take him in with us but this also doesn't work he's just very unsettled.

My ds had pneumonia when tiny and it sent his sleep haywire after we left hospital. It was all the obs and procedures.

I could not have done CC. He was clearly traumatised and had acute separation anxiety. We coslept.

Would you consider co-sleeping. His inability to sleep might stem from his experience of being ill.

Was he admitted in intensive care? He is still recuperating, no?

Should have said that I wish your little boy a continued recovery

We're finding if he's with us (co sleeping) he is still the same.

He was admitted into the children's renal unit for sick children.

We have appointments every six weeks, with the consultants.

I'm really unsure with the controlled crying think it could also be anxiety on my part.

Don't do controlled crying - the last thing he needs is to cry him self to sleep after all he's been through. Have some patience and compassion that he needs you and it'll get better.

Could his sleep be a side effect of his blood pressure medicine?

Check online for medication side effects

I have check and could be a side affect. I spoke with docs and they did not seam to concerned.

They wouldn't be concerned - they aren't the ones getting woken up all night! you could ask to try a different medication to see - there's loads of bp meds

Thank you, I have the consultant in a couple of weeks and will mention this again

You can ask for help from a play therapist or a counsellor experienced in helping children who have or have had serious illness. The sooner the better.

Thank you, I didn't know that we have had no support since coming home.

Ah so sorry to hear this
Is he on steroids ? Pred can cause insomnia
Poor love hope he goes on to be healthy and strong