we need some sleep!!!

[Debs75]

Every night is the same.
DS, 11 ASd
has his tea
plays a bit, has a bath,
watches a video and then
takes a snack upto bed

then for the next few hours we have a constant barrage of kicking, running, jumping and high-pitched squealing as he struggles to get himself to sleep.
He will ask (by kicking his door) to go to toilet once a night and will try to come downstairs many times a night.
He goes to bed at 7.30pm but it can be as late as 1.00am before he sleeps.
we have tried in the past delaying bedtime but he gets distressed after an extra half an hour and is still a nightmare to get to sleep.

we have asked for a safespace from OT as the kicking shakes the house but she denied it as she felt it was too enclosed for a bedroom.
I thought that was where they were designed for? We have also thought of trying Melatonin but our GP won't prescribe it and we don't have a consultant anymore

Often a few hours after he has finally settled he does wake up but thankfully he can resettle himself on most occasions.

Does anyone have any successful suggestions for dealing with this?

Personally I think that 7.30 is really early for a child of that age, but if staying up later stresses him.....

Anyway,I wanted to ask, have you tried melatonin? My 5yo used to stay up well past midnight, often until about 2.30am ish before he started on the melatonin (i think a paed has to prescribe this) and now he'll sometimes settle as early as 9.30pm!

It doesn't work all the time, but you really can tell the difference when he's had it. I'd say it's definitely worth looking in to.

Hope this helps x

Oh, I just reread and saw that your GP won't prescribe melatonin (sorry..had too much to drink - V stressful day today with ds!!!)

In that case then I have no suggestions but you do have my sympathy. It's crap when they don't sleep isn't it?

Pssst..I know you can get melatonin off the internet but I'm not suggesting you go down that route.

There is a type of slow release melatonin called circadin which now has a uk license and can be prescribed by gp's if they want to you just need to find a gp willing to do so, we've had quite a bit of success with this with dd as it releases slowly it keeps you asleep rather than just putting you to sleep, mind you the only way she will swallow it whole is in chocolate cake and custard!!. If your GP won't prescribe then ask for a referal to a paed who will. Hope you have some luck having very little sleep is just horrible.

My ds is the same with sleep, 12am on a good night, 3.30am on a bad night and up at 7.30am, he doesnt seem to need to sleep, unfortunately i do!

Paed gave us Vallergan on our last visit, worked really well, but ds had side effects, so had to stop. Melatonin would be next for us. Could your GP prescribed Vallergan? it might work for you.

At the moment i am getting by on holding ds really tight and rocking, this seems to calm him down. I have also been reading that weighted blankets and vests help to release natural melatonin and i would like to give these a try, but havent yet.

Why not get your GP to refer to back to a paediatrician for a prescription of melatonin and a discussion about sleep? I would refuse to leave the surgery until they sort it out

I used melatonin as a short term measure to help get my daughter into a sleep routine and it worked wonders for her. Once she'd got to sleep she'd sleep really well but actually falling asleep seemed to be a real problem for her. This is where Melatonin really helped her as it just helped her get of to sleep gently without knocking her out for the night and next day.
Melatonin is widely prescribed in America why we have to be so behind over here is frustrating.
As donkeryderby suggested i would refuse to leave the surgery until they help/refer.
I once did a sit in at my daughter paediatrician appointment,i refused to move until he'd made a relevant phonecall .
He then made it and i left happy ...i think he only did it to get rid of me though.
Shouldn't of have to do what i did but i was sick of being given the brush of !
Good luck

It can be so annoying when you're not taken seriously!

I suggest keeping a sleep diary for a week or so then go back to the gp, expressing how it disturbs the whole household.

I'd agree that 7.30 is very early for some kids - mine have lights out at about 8.30 , they are 7, 9 and 10 and get up at around 7 the next morning (even the one who has been screaming for hours)

Melatonin is prescribed where we are - I know of several childrens with sleep problems who use it, but maybe your gp has no direct experience of using it which might explain their reluctance.

We have Vallergan. Its great

Good luck

melotin imo is the answer, I would see another gp

We had vallergan when he was about 4-5 and he had side effects so had to come off it.

The Gp I asked about melatonin is one of those that will give you paracetamol for anything from a headache to a broken leg. he is the only one at the surgery who will not do methadone on principle so I think it may be worth going back to see another GP.

Have heard of weighted blankets and will google it. He is very attached to his quilt and wraps up like a cocoon in it, even in summer.

I do agree 7.30 was too early for his older DD at that age and he has had 7.30 since he was 3 so might be worth extending it. Dp isn't so sure as by 7.30 we are shattered by the kicking and screaming. But then again maybe him knowing he is off to bed soon and doesn't want to go could be stressing him in the early evening.

Thanks for the advice

Weighted blankets can be found here:

www.weight2goblankets.co.uk/