DS has a diagnosed sleep disorder. The bit I actually understood of what the consultant said was that he's still like a newborn who hasn't learnt to sleep through the night yet. This means the usual aids like melatonin are ineffective for him. Stress makes him sleep walk/bedwet which in turn makes it even worse, though this has lessened no he's no longer at school & we have a weighted blanket which also helps reduce the sleep walk episodes somewhat in frequency too.
Just recently (as in the last few weeks) he has for the first time he's managing 4 hours at a time uninterrupted kip at night (- it's a flaming miracle from where I'm standing!) However at the same time he's started taking an afternoon nap, (something he NEVER did as a toddler).
I'm sort of wondering if he's moved onto the next stage a very late sleep development curve, cos it does remind me very much of a toddler iyswim. However he's 9! This means all the midwife/HV advice has long since flown the coop.
Sleep experts/clinincs are few and far between (and I can only hassle the GP for so many referrals!) From where I'm standing this is a major improvement in MY quality of life, (as I get some sleep too!) so I don't want to be told to stop him afternoon napping or anything at this early stage by some caring carrot.
What would be helpful is a short refresher course on normal baby/toddler sleep pattern development, so I can map for myself if he's at roughly the 6 month or 3 year stage iyswim. Does anyone have an ijeets guide to this of the non Gina Ford variety or know where I can locate a guide online?
Or even anyone who has a NT baby toddler on here who could advise me? I don't want to post on the normal developmental forum to ask for fear of being told yet again to try lavender oil.