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Original poster

Where does your autistic child sleep?

21 replies

canttakethisanymore · 28/04/2006 23:04

My 3 year old ds2 autistic son overturns his bed and trashes the room every night. Hes pushed and leaned against the window so much its beginning to come away. His 5 year old brother shares the room and needs his sleep for school. I dont know what to do apart from put ds2 in my bed. But thats not really an answer. I dont know what to do. I took him out of his cot in december and bought a bed as he was smearing poo all over it and i had to throw it out. What i really need is a giant cot and i dont know if such a thing exists. I was just wondering does anyone have any ideas or tips i would really appreciate them. TIA.

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misdee · 28/04/2006 23:05

safespaces, but very expensive.

dd2 is a night time screamer. i often pop her in my bed to calm her down and end up with her all night in there.

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 28/04/2006 23:06

Have a look at \link{http://www.safespaces.co.uk/\safespaces}. Pricey but they will be able to put you in contact with charities that fund this sort of thing.

Also try fledglings (google for them)- they have a giant cot.

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 28/04/2006 23:07

BTW check out safepaces kind of half room thing- although possibly if your son is 3 he might start climbing out when older so best to go for the whole thing.

busybusybee · 28/04/2006 23:18

Safe spaces are amazing - I learn something new on mn every day!

sphil · 28/04/2006 23:41

Canttakethis - just wanted to say I sympathise.I have a son the same age and we have been through a long trashing the bed period (which -whisper -seems to have stopped for the moment). Also a period in which, having thrown duvet and pillows onto the floor, DS2 would squeeze in between the fitted sheet and the mattress and sleep there. But the very worst thing is the noise at night. DS2 also has a 5 year old brother and he's regularly kept awake until 9pm by the whooping and shrieking.

One thing that was recommended to us (but we haven't tried yet) is a weighted blanket. We also try to do loads of physical exercise (bouncing on trampette etc just before bed). This is probably a long shot, but is your son taking any supplements? We stopped giving DS2 EyeQ fish oil 2 days ago and tonight he was much less hyper. Still took 2 hours to go to sleep, but at least he did it quietly!

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 28/04/2006 23:43

Check out ebay for weighted blankets there are a couple of WAHM making their own. I bought a lap pad one for £10- it's great.

misdee · 28/04/2006 23:46

what do weighted blankets do? is it the pressue thing?

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 28/04/2006 23:48

yes- an OT thing, meant to be good for children who are always seeking pressure (like ds1- always climbinng on us for cuddles and pressing into eberything) or who can;t sit remotely still.

Original poster
canttakethisanymore · 28/04/2006 23:49

Thanks for the messages everyone. Safespaces sound great, the mad thing about having children with disabilities is you learn more on sites like this than the people involved with your child ever tell you. Sphil my son is on eyeq liquid hes been on it two months and ive seen an improvement and id be worried to take him off it. Is there any other supplement i could give him instead that you know of? Ive been so stressed out lately that i hate seeing kids the same age as my son and how well they`re getting on talking and playing. Its really unhealthy to think like this but i cant help feeling jealous. And ive also caught my son under the fitted sheet too!

OP posts:
misdee · 28/04/2006 23:49

ah right. does it help calm him down?

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 28/04/2006 23:52

efalex is a good alternative to eye Q, or eskimo oils, or any omega 3 only oil.

If your son is having problems settling melatonin might be the way to go.

Possibly a bit misdee, but I havent used one at night because he's weeing too much at the mo.

Got to go to bed. Sleep well!

Original poster
canttakethisanymore · 28/04/2006 23:56

Thanks Jimjams for the advice. Im going to change the fish oils hes taking and see how he gets on.

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Original poster
canttakethisanymore · 29/04/2006 00:00

One more question (sorry!). Do you know wherebouts or what stores sell eskimo liquid and efalex?

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Chocol8 · 29/04/2006 00:08

Canttakethis - I get my Eskimo kids oil from the health food stall on the market, but I think you can buy it on the internet from what another MNer said before.

My ds takes Melatonin, and although it doesn't suit everyone, it works a treat for my ds. Within half an hour he is yawning and provided he isn't too anxious, he falls asleep really quietly and quickly. Doesn't mean he stays like that, but hey...!

sphil · 29/04/2006 00:09

I've just ordered the Eskimo Kids oil from www.yournutrition.com. Will be interesting to compare experiences to see if it makes a difference! I don't think it's a coincidence with DS as we took him off EyeQ once before and it had the same positive effect on his sleeping.

Original poster
canttakethisanymore · 29/04/2006 00:17

It sounds like its worth a shot changing the fish oils over. Its a pity boots and superdrug just do eyeq and halib orange and not the eskimo or efalex. I`ll have a look online tomorrow.

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Davros · 29/04/2006 10:40

I can relate to this! DS doesn't have a bed now, just 2 mattresses on the floor (which I feel guilty about but he's gone through 4 beds inc mine and DH's!). We also have a "shutter" up at his window as he broke it once. Its a piece of MDF with some cut-outs to make it look less prison-like. It has a couple of star locks so it can be opened but its great at keeping the room dark. I agree that you should change the fish oils and look into melatonin, it would prob get him to sleep in whcih case he can't be trashing! THe worst thing for you sounds like him sharing with his brother, I don't know what you can do about that, does it upset him and disturb his sleep? Presumably there's nowhere else for your DS with ASD to sleep? I know this might sound a bit far fetched (its my latest bit of exciting info so I'm posting it for the second time!), but you can get a grant to make adaptations to your home. Its up to £25,000 and is "to enable you to stay in your home" and is NO LONGER MEANS TESTED for families who have a child with disability!!!!!
Go to www.direct-gov.uk, enter Disabled Facilities Grant in the search box. HTH

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 29/04/2006 10:50

Seriously? No longer means tested? Shit- maybe we can get the double glazing (the windows are so dangerous). Thanks Davros!

Davros · 29/04/2006 11:14

Yes, I'm planning on asking them to fund having the soil removed from our garden!

LIZS · 29/04/2006 11:19

I get efalex from Boots on 3 for 2, perhaps you need a slightly bigger branch or your local one might order it for you or get it online.

Original poster
canttakethisanymore · 29/04/2006 22:17

Tahnks again for all the replies, everything has been really helpful Smile. It doesnt feel as isolating when i can come on here and get some advice and tips from people who are in the same boat as me and who have more experience/knowledge of dealing with a child who has autism. Mumsnet is brill Grin

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