sleep (lack) of is getting worse

[phlebas]

I haven't had more than 4 hours sleep a night for over a month now & I am exhausted/grumpy/horrid to live with.

We've really worked hard at improving going to sleep - ds is asleep by 8:30 99% of the time :) - dh does his bedtime while I get the dds settled. We usually manage to have everyone alseep by 9:30 at the latest. Then we do paperwork/housework/ABA prep/eat etc I never finish chores before midnight.

Then my insomnia kicks in so I'm usually still awake at 1am when ds wakes up, he settles properly again around 4ish which is when dd2 wakes up. I manage to sleep from 4:40-7:30 (dh takes over with the kids) - dh is always late for work, which means he's late leaving & the evening routine gets pushed back and bedtime is more chaotic.

I'm too tired to think creatively about how to improve situation (I've tried to do chores when tutor are here with ds etc - but dds really need my attention at those times (dd1 is HE & dd2 is seriously distracting for ds)). Has anyone found anything that has ever helped with night time waking in an almost 4 year old?

Oh I feel for you, we have just come out the other end although we had a blip last night.

I found ds responds well to lavender everything at bedtime. Soap, shampoo, powder and we have a diffuser in his room loaded with lavender.

We now have melatonin and that works really well but we have continued with the lavender as ds responded so well we are worried about stopping it!

Well done for getting your dc's asleep in the evening.

thanks Blue ... does the melatonin help with staying asleep or mainly with getting to sleep? A month ago I thought we might have cracked it ... argh.

DS is tired too ... tutor had to abandon the planned session today & they just snuggled on the sofa reading stories he wasn't up to anything more taxing.

The melatonin helps ds get to sleep and keeps him asleep. I think its a slow release version.

Quite amazing the first night as we watched his eyelids fluttering after 40 mins!

He only wakes in the night when very anxious now, start of the new term at the moment.

It must be very hard looking after your dc after so little sleep, I always managed a nap when ds was at school!

And you will crack it!

We also use melatonin and have found it helps with going to sleep. We had similar problems with waking in the night with our ds until we got another medication which helps keep him asleep - vallergan of which he takes a tiny amount 0.5ml. I know some people don't like / agree with giving meds to help with sleep, but I just can't cope with my ds without a decent night's sleep. We also have a very sympathetic GP who knows how challenging things are without sleep. Hope you find something that works for you.

There are two types of melatonin preparations. Liquid melatonin has a very short half-life (45 minutes) so is good for getting them to sleep, but won't keep them asleep. You can give a repeat dose in the night if they wake, though.

Circadan SR is a slow-release capsule. The trouble with that is that if you break open the capsule, you lose the SR element of it.

That's interesting - no one ever told me that Lougle. My ds won't swallow capsules though - i have to sneak the liquid stuff into his juice.

That clears it up for me too! Luckily ds will swallow the capsule with water - shame he won't swallow some food!

Thanks Lougle

Glad to be of help Basically, the capsules dissolve slowly and release the little balls, which in turn have to dissolve and absorb into the gut, then into the blood stream.

The liquid is able to be absorbed by the tissues and therefore into the blood stream much quicker. In fact the leaflet says that if the person can hold it in their mouth for 2 mins prior to swallowing, the effective rate is increased hugely.

DD1 takes the liquid, and is usually ready to sleep within 5 minutes of taking it.

ive just hit rock bottom today with my son nearly 4 .im going phone gp tomoz to try get help with his sleep,hes up till 9.30-10pm every nite and wakes at 7 ,sometimes he will sleep through other nights he wakes 2-3 times.im exausted xx hope u get some sleep soon x