Separation anxiety

[Peachtastic]

Hi there

My 5 year old is a horrendous sleeper. She has never slept well, she will do anything to not go to sleep. I think she has adhd but that's another story. For now, whilst she has no diagnosis, the lack of sleeping is killing me off.

She is terrified of being in her room by herself. She will scream and scream until she is sick if I leave her. So I have to stay with her. But she takes 4 to 5 hours per night to fall asleep. Even when she is extremely tired. I can't take this anymore. We have been doing the whole Co sleeping thing but I feel we need a next step.

For this reason, I'm looking to get a small bed for her in my bedroom so she's not in my bed at least but she has the comfort of me being there. I don't have a large bedroom though, so I'm looking for suggestions for a bed that can be next to mine and possibly around same height! She's a petite 5 year old so doesn't take up much room.

Thanks so much for listening

My DD is now 19 and diagnosed at 14 with adhd, pda ( that's another story as to why it too so long ) but up to the age of 15 she spent most nights sleeping in a bed next to
me and my Dh, it was the only way to get a good night sleep, She was always wanting sleepovers with her friends at our house and even now she hates sleeping alone, she can't really explain but says she sleeps so much better if someone is next to her in bed , preferably me or one of her close friends , says she feels safer .
So what I'm trying to say - is go for it , you will all end up sleeping better, meant to say she liked to hold my hand whilst lying in the bed next to me.

I'm so glad you have a positive story. I was thinking if she was next to me, I could still hold her hand and provide comfort. If she sleeps beside me, she sleeps all night. If I move her into her own bed, she wakes constantly and cries all night. I just need us all to get some rest.

This is really interesting. I was diagnosed age 39 with adhd and I slept next to my mum (single parent) until I was 14 for the same reason as your DD. I also held her hand when I was younger. Poor woman never got a break from me!

My 7yo DS is now on the waiting list for adhd assessment and also likes to sleep in bed with either myself or DH. Anything for a quiet night and good sleep!

Peachtastic, Dr13handley- totally agree we all need sleep and does it matter if she
Sleeps next to you for a few more years .
Dd is now 19 and still a poor sleeper if on own her own, she often has our dog in her bed and if my DH is away or on nights , she is straight in our bed. also with her adhd she says her brain is full of filing cabinets and she can't close them all, so always whirring away all night long .

Aw I completely know what she means!