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Sleep Deprivation - Falling Apart

2 replies

Leostratts · 16/01/2025 07:23

I need help or advice or something because I honestly feel like I’m on the verge of a mental breakdown.

My 3y9m old’s sleep has in the last 2-3 months gone to absolute shit. Since he was 3 months old he has always been the best sleeper, other than short lived phases like teething, etc. recently he just does not sleep, he is waking anywhere between 2-15 times a night, but the last couple nights he now is shouting and screaming in the night to get our attention. He doesn’t say anything ls wrong, which if there was, he is able to communicate as he is bright.

He has a night light, he has covers, a pillow, a fan, a toniesbox, his water beside him (but he will NOT get it himself) we’ve tried bribing with new toys, rewarding with stickers, gentle parenting, firm parenting, ignoring him (doesn’t work as he doesn’t stop and then gets so loud it will wake his brother up) there has been no changes in his life or routine whatsoever, he’s had all his teeth for a long time now, he’s not ill, he has magnesium every night before bed. He hasn’t napped in the day for a long time now, goes nursery 4 times a week, gets fresh air every day, try and limit his screen time and anything sugary, all that usual stuff.

We have an ENT appointment in February (referred back in March 2023) as we believe he has sleep apnoea although it never seemed to bother/affect him other than the snoring etc. I can’t imagine this is the reason he is the way he is all of a sudden when we think he’s always had it, so unsure if unrelated.

Please does anyone have any ideas? Seems to be going on for too long to be a development or phase and I just don’t know how much more we can take!

To top it off, his 19 month old brother this week has started waking up at 6am - I feel absolutely broken. Newborn days were 10x easier than this 😫

OP posts:
Starryknightcloud · 16/01/2025 07:28

If he's in bed with you does the waking still happen? I'd be inclined to try that, or a different bedroom for him, if you haven't already to see if theres something in the room that's disturbing him (took us ages to realise my DDs room with a particular external wall was absolutely freezing in the early hours!). Or if its a separation thing.

Good that you've got ENT coming up. Any chance of low iron?

Leostratts · 16/01/2025 10:54

@Starryknightcloud Thank you for your reply! He normally messes about if he ever comes into our bed, plus he snores so me and dad won’t sleep! He’s been in the same bedroom since being a baby, but he’s it a cot bed (converted) so don’t know if a bigger bed would help? He also runs hot so I know he wouldn’t be cold, it’s so hard to know what’s causing it! I could speak to GP about low iron, as it hasn’t been tested before x

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