Sleepwalking and not sleeping through

[tiredmumma93]

My DD, 7, has been having trouble sleeping through recently, usually waking around 1 or 2 times a night.

Last night, she slept walked just after 11pm. She got up, grabbed her shoes, walked in to the kitchen where my partner was with the light on, he asked if she was okay, she just turned and walked into the front room, no light on, I was up by this point and followed them into the front room. She sat on the sofa and put her shoes on.
She was unresponsive for a little bit, I asked if she wanted to take her shoes off which she very slightly responded no, we asked a few questions I.e are you okay etc, no response. I said it's time to get back to bed and offered to help her with her shoes. No response, looking blankly straight ahead. I slid her shoes off and walked her back to bed. She went back to "sleep" almost immediately.

She then woke up about 2am again and walked into the hallway. She seemed more awake when I put her back to bed and she began making a few small whimpering noises. No talking still. I put her music box thing on and she went back to sleep.

She doesn't remember any of this.

I am at a loss of what to do. Every night she is waking or out of bed at least twice. I've approached the drs (no help), I've asked the school if there have been any issues as another child told her parent my DD fell asleep in class and her friend had to wake her up, the school referred us to the school nurse who sent out an information pack about healthy bed times which was no help.

Anyone else experience anything like this?

I'd go see a different gp and ask to explore the possibility of a sleep disorder . Especially since shes fallen asleep in class.

Thank you. The GP emailed me to say they wouldn't help due to her age and was very dismissive.

Never had a problem with her sleeping before so it's all very new and is pushing on a month now.

@tiredmumma93 did you find a solution to this?

Not really, just perseverance with walking her back to her own bed etc. I've put a reward chart in place too.

I've put it down to separation anxiety.

I also called the National sleep helpline who were so so lovely! They gave me some advice and recommended a book and workbook called the invisible string.

We're very open with communication so we have spoken about it loads! It seems to have helped a little.
This week- we've had a few good nights, only coming into me once, or coming in at like 5am. One night of two wake ups, one being 1am and about 4am.
Last night was her best night- I heard her self settle (not sure of time) with her little music box then she came in to me at 6!!!
When I put her back to bed I told her how well she'd done and the praise will continue when I get her up at 7!

This is very encouraging to hear. Will try it out with my 5 yr old son. Thank you.

Hello, I'm wondering if you could share how your child is doing now? Experiencing a similar situation with my child.

One of my dc slept walked for a year or two between about age 7-9.

He’d wake up and get out of bed (usually only once a night) and would walk onto the landing or sometimes downstairs which was a bit scary! He’d be quite distressed and we learnt that there was no talking to him, he couldn’t be consoled and that the best thing to do was guide him back to bed where he’d go back to sleep fast. It was worrying but suddenly one day we realised he’d grown out of it and that was that. Never done it since.

@picturethispatsy that's very encouraging to hear. Did you ever speak to a doctor about it? Doctors just tell me nothing we can do for children.

No (only Dr Google 😜). My DP said he’d done exactly the same as a child and MIL confirmed this so I felt ok about it.