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DD10 can't get to sleep

3 replies

Teaandsympathy · 29/01/2023 07:42

My DD10 has ADHD and ASD.

She was a quite a good sleeper as a baby and toddler (unusually so) but since she was about 6 she has real difficulty falling asleep and in the last few weeks it's really escalated. She needs us to go and sit with her and/or we need to give her melatonin. (Which my husband is reluctant to do as a matter of course. We bought some in the states when we were on holiday there recently so not from the doctor). She is tired and is difficult to get up the next day.

I know this is a common problem for people with ADHD and/or ASD. I think it's partly so bad at the moment because it's winter, we're in Scotland so it's freezing and the days are short. She's slowly over the last 6 months stopped all her after school activities which won't be helping either and it's so difficult to get her to participate in any activity- even family walks (demand avoidance!) Her diet isn't great at the moment either. She only eats small amounts and she seems to be going off a lot of things at the moment.

In my head it's obvious she needs to be more active but the reality of getting her to do this is very different. She complains and moans and drags her heels or just won't participate. We've tried all obvious things of trying to let her choose, having chats/explaining why moving is important but it's not helping on an ongoing basis. I'm thinking of signing up to a local pool which is expensive but she'll enjoy but realistically we can only do that once or twice a week. She has 2 younger siblings.

Any other tips/suggestions would be grateful received.

OP posts:
Teaandsympathy · 29/01/2023 07:45

As an example She was in and out of bed last night from 10 pm when I put her light off and was up until after 11.30 last night and eventually came into my bed. We woke her yesterday around 7am yesterday as we needed to go out at 8.

OP posts:
Tol85 · 30/01/2023 17:01

Hi,
Have you referred to sleep scotland, you can refer yourself on their website. They maybe able to help find ways to help switch off at night. If concerned about her eating maybe see gp for referal to dietician. As for activities it could be due to lack of sleep etc have you tried turning up somewhere like softplay or that without dd knowing where yous are heading.

Teaandsympathy · 02/02/2023 21:22

@Tol85

thanks good advice

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