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SN children

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Original poster

Sleep Debacle

11 replies

JakB · 16/05/2005 14:54

Right, it's all kicked off again with DD. It started the day she had some raspberries (any connection?). Since then she's been finally falling asleep between 10 and 12pm. Then frequent wakings and general restlessness. I got hold of some melatonin which she hasn't had for a while (thanks Monica2!). Last night she went to sleep beautifully at 7pm and I thought, phew, I've broken the cycle. Then woke at 3pm and DIDN'T GO BACK TO SLEEP.
Eek. DH said why don't we give her some melatonin in the middle of the night but won't this really mess her cycle up?
We are all shattered
Any suggestions gratefully received.

OP posts:

Eulalia · 16/05/2005 17:06

No suggestions but 7 - 3am is quite a long stretch - 8 hrs, maybe she just can't manage longer stretches of sleep. sorry not been following the threads recently so ignore this if not relevant.

My dd (NT) doesn't sleep for long. Last night I stretched her for as long as poss as ds doesn't sleep till late. She was exhausted and fell asleep at 9.20pm and woke refreshed at 7am which is less than 10 hours. I went to bed at 11pm and ds (autistic) was still awake! I think he fell asleep not long after but I had to wake him for school at 8.20am.

Anyway normally he sleeps about 10pm - 8am - 10 hours or thereabouts. I was told recently that the melatonin only helps in getting a child to sleep and won't help with the waking and it shouldn't be given again.

Sorry no help at all, just sympathy.

anniebear · 16/05/2005 17:14

8 hours may sound good, but 3am is not!

Sorry no help, but know how you feel!!

maddiemo · 16/05/2005 17:22

No answer Jakb, but I would love to know if you could give melatonin again in the same night. My ds has melatonin and at best goes from 8pm to midnight. We are shattered and it is affecting his day at school. I always hoped that he would outgrow his sleep problems but they have got worse with age

Sorry, I don't suppose that makes you feel better

Davros · 16/05/2005 17:27

We were told we could give it during the night but we weren't giving it for bedtime as that's not a prob. If DS woke say after midnight but before 5am we gave him some melatonin a few times. BUT it doesn't seem to work on him! He either took over 2 hours to go back to sleep and so it was too late for getting up for school or it seemed to have no effect at all!! He just seems to go through phases and is reasonably OK at the moment. SOrry, not much help but I think you can give it during the night, not sure about if its again though. Err, hate to say, have you checked melatonin on the archive? MrsF has posted some good stuff about it in the past.

Chocol8 · 16/05/2005 17:34

My ds used to take melatonin until recently when he has begun to go to sleep himself (started a new school and he's knackered most days).

I was told by my consultant that I could give him a second dose if he woke during the night, however I didn't feel comfortable doing that.

I just dug out the tablets and it doesn't mention it on the label, but definitely remember her saying this. As Eulalia says, it is for getting to sleeep only which is the problem. My ds still wakes in the night or very early in the morning and doesn't go to sleep again.

I'm sure someone in the know will be along soon - but sympathies to you as we all know what it's like to lose sleep. ((((((((hugs)))))))))

monica2 · 16/05/2005 22:02

Hi JakB, will give the lovely J a call tomorrow for advice she has just finished her sleep therapy course, hope you all have a better night tonight xx

Original poster

JakB · 17/05/2005 09:36

Ah! She slept through last night so we are waiting to see what happens tonight...
Thanks for all your advice- think I have to accept that she is not going to be regular kid who goes to sleep at 8 and wakes at 7! She thinks she is at a rave, I think...

OP posts:

Davros · 17/05/2005 09:54

DS certainly goes through phases. A while ago he was waking up at around 3am and not going back to sleep, even at 1.30am one night. And he'd be rampaging around having a great time. Now he's sleeping through, getting upset at bedtime although going OK, just grizzling BUT getting up at 5.30am-6.00am! I think the early starts are better as I come downstairs with him and lie on the couch, he even went back to sleep himself yesterday little bugger! Its hard to know whether to do anything as they're always changing....

Thomcat · 17/05/2005 13:00

As I'm having problems myself with very early wakings I can't help but just wanted to say 'isn't it awful' and sympathise with you.

heartinthecountry · 17/05/2005 13:06

JakB - dd woke up at 5am this morning and I thought of you. 3am is really really not good. Glad she slept through last night.

I really think the light mornings are waking dd up .

Thomcat · 17/05/2005 13:10

Girls Dinosuar posted a great link to a stick on back out blid that Prufrock found. have a look at the thread I started today. (Lottie had me up at 4.30am), TC x

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