Mum guilt

[Christmas202]

Hi all,
Backstory is eldest is autistic. Since COVID he’s been a poor sleeper.
Currently on holidays and see the extent of his sleep.
Bear in mind he is nearly 12 and doesn’t go to sleep til 11.00 pm he’s up at 2:30 am for the day. He won’t even fall asleep for 5 minutes until 11pm the next night. Even though he’s wrecked god love him.
DO sleep patches work to keep you asleep?
I don’t want to go down the melatonin route if at all possible. He doesn’t cause a fuss just snuggles his baby brother . He’s such a good boy, it breaks my heart.

Why don’t you want to go down the melatonin route? It’s been life changing for my children (and my friend’s children who take it). We have a sleep clinic who monitor it and only their paediatrician will prescribe it.

Often autistic children don’t naturally produce melatonin which is why they don’t sleep.

I don’t know about sleep patches tbh. I tried everything and I mean everything before trying the melatonin, the first time we used it my DS was tired, it’s been a game changer. Also, he doesn’t have it in school holidays or the weekend as you’re supposed to have breaks.

This will sound blunt but melatonin is something that will help him, so why do you want to avoid it?

It’s similar to saying that calpol will help with the pain and fever that your child is going through but you don’t want to give it.

My child is autistic too and up until recently he wasn't falling asleep until 10.45pm. I was recommended a magnesium spray and brought it thinking worth a try but not expecting much. Only been using it a few days so far but he's been falling asleep around 8.30 now which is great. This is the one we have used: https://betteryou.com/products/magnesium-sleep-kids-body-spray?variant=41714654544032&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=CjwKCAjw4f6zBhBVEiwATEHFVj75VpJWja6WL7LSklb-13Yqab-Kvke1cpiNNfn8-RCd03wOKIX8yxoCMOIQAvD_BwE