Its a sleep one

[runrabbit77]

DD3 is awaiting ASD diagnosis - her biggest trait is speech delay.

She has always been a shit sleeper, falls asleep ok but wakes up and then can stuggle to go back to sleep. She used to just doze and drift back off as long as i was there but we have been going through increasing periods of split nights - her most extreme was midnight to 6am.
She has slept through a handful of times and a good streak is 9pm sleep, she wakes once or twice after about 4/5 hours just needing a cuddle back to sleep and then wake up 7.30. Bad nights are waking every few hours and she then properly wakes up. It causes such a knock on affect and makes it hard to break the cycle.

A few people have now suggested perhaps i reach out for a sleep clinic referral. I think I have perhaps just accepted this is our normal, but can they do anything to help?

Medications, which a sleep clinic (or paeds or CAMHS) could look at, help some DC.

Doesn’t sound like you’ve got much to lose by going? You must be so tired.

My DS can’t get to sleep so a different problem to you, but getting melatonin has been a great help to us. Not perfect - at all! But better.

Hi @runrabbit77 I’m wondering how you’re getting on? DS 2.5yo had a referral for SN but they don’t think he falls under their criteria. Have been referred to speech and language but looking at private as NHS wait list is huge. Anyway, same as you, has always been a terrible sleeper. More often than not does not sleep through. Mostly split nights about 1-4:30am or wakes various times. I keep thinking/hoping it will get better but never does. Did you go for a sleep referral?