Urgent HELP please DS is really frightened of going to sleep

[Yurtgirl]

I am stuck (being a lone parent doesnt help)

DS is 7 with aspergers

He has been upstairs since 8 moaning that he cant sleep

Now he is crying desperate tears, frightened to go to sleep cos of bad dreams
He is determined never to go to sleep again

What can I do?
He normally sleeps well-ish, frequently with the aid of melatonin (which he has already had this evening)

Ive got to go back to him cos I promised Id only be 2 mins

Back in a few if he will let me

[MiniMarmite]

How about doing the drawing now Yurtgirl (since he is up anyway)? Would finishing with another drawing of bedroom as a positive/safe place help?

[wigglybeezer]

There is a good book for kids called "What to do when you dread your Bed", a friend of mine has tired it and reckons it's good ( Ihave other books in the same series).
DS2 had trouble feeling safe enough to drop of to sleep for ages but solved the problem himself by trying out a freebie airline sleepmask, he reckons he doesn't get the glimpses of things out of the corner of his eye that used to freak him out (he interpreted them as monsters etc.). He therefore goes off to sleep with the light on but wearing a sleep mask...but it worked for him. I reckon you will have to get creative and give him a big choice of things to try... and maybe let him camp in your room in the meantime.

[Debs75]

Sit with him and use what ever techniques you use for calming during the day.
Ignore bedtime, tell him he can stay up with you if he wants, take the pressure off a bit.
Choose something else to do to take his mind off it.

*If he is scared of falling asleep and you take that away then he should calm down ar least.

GOOD LUCK

[Yurtgirl]

All wonderful ideas thanks again all - I shall print this thread out for future instances

Wigglybeezer - I am going to check out that book, it sounds fab

Having tried a variety of upstairs solutions I kept him downstairs this time and let him watch me play littermonkey tommorrow (which is a big deal because he isnt allowed on the internet atm)

Fingers crossed

[PlumBumMum]

Sorry haven't read all your replies but about to log off and just wanted to say my ds sleeps with a CD on repeat all night long.

[MiniMarmite]

Hope it works Yurtgirl.

Something I'm planning to do for my DS is to make a bedtime book (either a scrapbook or on photobox if I'm feeling flush when I get round to it). Going to take pictures of him having dinner and then getting ready for bed, having cuddles, reading story etc and getting into bed with teddy, and put it all in a book.

No sleep difficulties with ds just yet but I'm sure the day will come! Thought it might be reassuring and fun to be able to read to him about his bedtime.

[Yurtgirl]

LeonieSoSleepy - How old is dd2? How on earth you you cope with her up 10X every night????

He has just come down now asking for more melatonin, hopefully he will give up now and go to sleep!

Thank gawd he isnt like this a lot

Thankyou soooo much everyone, you have really helped me not to feel alone

[Yurtgirl]

Leonie - she is only 10 months, it will get better (think positive!)

Thankfully he went to sleep and stayed asleep till this morning 7:15

Re melatonin, I think that may be at least part of the cause of his horrid dreams - Im not sure whether to tell him that or not though - thought required on that I think

Thankyou so much for all your helpful thoughts and vibes