Sleep!!

[Itsonlyagame]

My ds is 7 (ASC and ADHD) and just will not stay asleep. He wakes multiple times in the night and is up for the day at 4am most days. He won't stay in his own bed and always wants to be in mine, problem is he jumps all over me pulls my ears and kicks me all night. I am absolutely exhausted and have no idea what to do. We did try melatonin but it sent him crazy and his sleep was actually worse on it.

Have you tried any other medications? There’s others that can help e.g. Promethazine. You could ask for a referral to a sleep clinic too.

His Paed is most unhelpful to be honest. She doesn't want him on adhd meds and says there is nothing else we can do for his sleep, she says some kids just don't need as much sleep. 🙄

I would be requesting a referral elsewhere.

I am seriously considering it but I suffer from anxiety and am worried I will be branded awkward. She says that adhd meds won't help him because his autism is so bad that treating his adhd won't make a difference. Surely you can't know that without trying?

IMO it’s worth trying ADHD meds as, like you say, you don’t know exactly how DC will respond until you’ve tried them. And different types suit different people.

But even if the consultant did think it was pointless trying ADHD meds there other medications to try.

It's really shit how some people just expect you to spend the rest of your life sleep deprived. Children's services are utter crap in this country.

How do you get melatonin? I'm going through similar hell.

A paediatrician needs to prescribe melatonin.

It doesn’t help every child on its own.

CAMHS can also prescribe.