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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Need urgent advice on keep ds safe at night. Who?

14 replies

rebl · 12/04/2011 10:34

DS sleep walks and isn't safe at night. Last night saw him in A&E because he'd been bouncing on his bed, asleep, and then dived head first off the bed across the room and in true ds style didn't put his hands out to save himself and put his teeth through his lip and out the other side. 2 top from teeth are now 45 degrees angled in, thankfully his milk teeth still. This is when he woke up. He says he was bouncing on the trampoline and his sister and brother (he doesn't have a brother!) pushed him! He's adament that that is what happened. He was clearly asleep and dreaming and acting out his dream.

We're currently under going a full assessment by the CAMHS team but we need help NOW on keeping him safe at night. The accident last night is quite honestly the minor end of the scale of what I've been saying could happen. He doesn't always stay in his room, the stairs are there for him to go piling down, the bathroom is there for him to play in, the kitchen is there for him to play in. All whilst we are asleep and have no idea he's in danger.

We need urgent advice on how to keep him safe at night. Who do we turn to?

OP posts:

r3dh3d · 12/04/2011 11:14

Well, if they are any cop at all in your area, Social Services OT should have some suggestions and hopefully fund a safespace. The issue is they don't turn up overnight, they're not something you can buy in Tesco, alas. Do you have a SW already? I'm not sure what the fast-track assessment process would be, if not. The word from our local SS is NOT to get assessed by referral from another service (eg GP) because then you have to fill in a CAF which adds about 6 months' delay and has insufficient info for SS so they have to start all over again.

Sorry, waffling. If you have a SW, phone them and ask for URGENT OT visit. If not, phone the SW department and try to keep your temper while persuading the call-centre bod that your child merits an urgent SS assessment in order to get an urgent OT assessment.

I'd put a travel alarm on his door at night straight off - won't solve the bed-diving but at least he can't turn the cooker on without you noticing. www.amazon.co.uk/Present-Madness-Travel-Alarm-Door/dp/B001UR6S62/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302603111&sr=8-1

Marne · 12/04/2011 11:20

Both my dd's have gone through a stage of night-mares, moving in their sleep, dd2 has a stair gate on her door so she cant get out (although she can open it when awake), her bed is low to the ground with a bed rail and has lots of pillows around the edge to stop her banging her head on the wall when she's bouncing up and down. I keep the kitchen door shut at all times, luckily i wake easily .

I know a few parents that use alarms and cctv cameras in their dc's rooms.

Original poster

rebl · 12/04/2011 11:44

Thank you both of you. He's always been a danger to himself at night since the moment he could crawl. We've progressed from sleep crawling to where we are now just like his normal daytime movement progression and behaviour has progressed. Night-time activity is of the same nature as daytime activity.

We do have a sw, he's coming on Thursday anyway to do an assessment of needs or something. I know he's looking at getting us Direct Payments and sorting out the DLA as well because he feels ds is totally at the wrong level which I agree with but I've not been prepared to challenge it because at least we get something. I was going to speak to him about school transport as well and I'll add safety at night to my list.

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starfishmummy · 12/04/2011 12:03

DS has a "safe bed" - its a full size bed but has really high cot sides (with a gate, not drop down, all around it. NHS OT helped us find and get it but ddin't fund it (but they applied to a loical charity for us).

In DS's case it was to stop him falling out (rather than getting out) so the sides are high but wouldn't stop a climber, but I have seen ones with sides that go up to ceiling height.

Don't think the person who made it has a web site, but a similar one is Cotswold cots.

TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 12/04/2011 13:13

we have a stair gate over dd3s bedroom door to stop her wandering, you can get dog gates if the usual baby ones aren't high enough. Is there any way as a tempory measure you could take his bed out of his room and just have the matress straight on the floor for him? Hope he's ok.

Original poster

rebl · 12/04/2011 13:25

DH is taking the bed out, we only moved him onto it about a month ago because of him falling off the matress so much. He was upset he didn't have a bed and eventually against my better judgement we put the bed up for him. But after last night its going back up in the loft and he'll have to be back on the mattress on the floor for now.

He's a major climber and if he could get his hands to the top of a gate he would be able to pull himself over, he can do pull ups and then swing his legs up, well he can on a climbing frame or bar at the park.

I'm about to order the door alarm. Thank you for that link.

I clearly need to speak to an OT. I've rung and left a message for the sw to call me. I'd like to speak to someone before Thursday really.

OP posts:

FauxFox · 12/04/2011 18:32

It sounds like a safespace would be good for him - they are expensive but you may be able to get one provided by the OT due to the danger he has proved to be in in a normal bed?

flyinstar · 12/04/2011 18:36

we have to take turns sleeping in our sons room ,(different scenario),but it may help give you peace of mind until you find another solution,not ideal ,i know,but may stop another trip to a & e,hope you get some help soon.

growlybear · 12/04/2011 19:57

I would second starfishmummy the are a few bed/cots on the market such as the olaf and the hannah as star said some go floor to ceiling and have padded sides.My dd had an olaf she now has a bear snooze by kinderkey which has padded sides and can be made as high as you want they also do other beds.

Original poster

rebl · 12/04/2011 19:58

Spoke to CAMHS today and was told he would have to sleep with us on a matress on the floor until we can get a more permanent solution.

The safespace looks brilliant. Also looks expensive.

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Triggles · 13/04/2011 22:53

Thought I'd mention you can also get stair/safety gates with audible alarms on them when they open. We have one at the top of our stairs. I believe it's from Linden safety gates (think we bought it through toysrus).

Triggles · 13/04/2011 22:54

sorry, Lindam, not Linden. I think it cost us about £30.

trace2 · 14/04/2011 09:11

my dd is the same in her sleep hurt her self many times we have an ot but having trouble finding out how to help:( we take turns sleeping with her and have an cctv also to show the docs what she does just so they can not say we making it up. as they say she unusual in doing this most nights.

Original poster

rebl · 14/04/2011 13:28

Where did you get the cctv trace2? CAMHS have asked us to record him at night but our camcorder isn't up to the job (not wide enough lense and no night vision and not long enough tape).

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