Sleep issues 4 year old

[Itsalljustapuzzle]

Hi. I am currently sat up watching my nearly 5 year old sleep because he is always exhausted despite sleeping seemingly well (cannot cope with school, 30 mins swim and nothing else in the morning = 2 hour nap, this type of exhausted). Doctor isn't sure if it's some sort of parasomnia or sleep related seizures disrupting his quality of sleep, or something completely different. There are no known nutrient deficiencies, he has had numerous blood tests to rule these out. For context, I suspect he has some sensory issues and there are definitely some fixations with interests, he is very sensitive to stimulation but not diagnosed as ND.

Please, could anyone tell me:

Has anyone experienced either of these?
Is it common for children to be rubbing the mattress/sheets/their own body with their hands and feet in their sleep?
Is it common for children of this age to sit up / eyes open / look around and go back to sleep but have no recollection?

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to even be looking for or how to help him. It's been going on years but I've always been told he's just a tired child and I've kept pursuing it (and been laughed at by professionals more than once, sadly).

Thank you.

My 5 yos sleep massively improved last year once we started playing guide meditation to her all night. She was waking some times several times a night and was knackered. She was in school - they did offer to let her have naps there on days she had particularly poor sleep but she's a low sleep needs child and stopped napping at 3.

We once went upstairs at our bed time and found her asleep next to her bed in a sitting position.

Her sleep is impacted by reflux and allergies, have these been explored?

@Itsalljustapuzzle sorry to hear this, it sounds so stressful,

Has he been like this his whole life? If not, when did it start?

Could he have been bitten by a tick?

I appreciate this wasn't the topic, but I also wanted to check that when he starts school in September 2026 he'll be going into reception, not year 1?

Also, ime it is not unusual for children to sit up and look around while still sleeping occasionally . If he's doing it multiple times every night I think that might indicate a problem

@SPLOOSHYthe tick never crossed my mind, could be maybe. He was a terrible sleeper as a baby but around 1 just started sleeping through, but he’s has always been very tired in the day and until he was 2 and a bit, had to have 2 naps every day.

If he starts then, he would go into Y1. Schools round here generally don’t accept reception starters if they are not of that age unless it’s medical/exceptional which this won’t be classified as.

@Superscientistmeditation- great idea. He has a white noise machine but maybe it’s time to try something else! Our local schools won’t accommodate any day napping (and one of them is firmly against children missing any days even if they are pre-CSA, one is more open to them being part time until they start school), hence the decision to not send him yet. Lots of children still need a little sleep on some school days don’t they, it’s such a busy day for them.

@Itsalljustapuzzle I would really recommend joining the Facebook group "Flexible School Admissions for Summerborns (England)" (assuming you are in England that is!).

Legally the school admissions authority must at least consider starting your son in reception, and they must make the decision "in the best interests of the child". Blanket policies that a child must enter year 1 are illegal. You would have a really good case.