Should I push for a sleep referral?

[YoungerHeart]

I have a 3 year old who's never been a great sleeper.Didn't sleep through the night until he was around 14 months after we did sleep training and has always had ups and downs.

Since he's turned 3 we have totally gone backwards and it's like having a newborn again. Waking 6-7 times per time sometimes and waking up at the crack of dawn. He always just wants to sleep in our bed but still has a very restless and wakeful sleep.

He's exhausted and it's affecting his behaviour and we are exhausted and have no patience during the day.

I suspect the waking it partly to do with the fact he had had a blocked nose for almost 5 months now and my health visitor suspects he had enlarged adenoids due to his nasal speech (which has just developed), the waking, his lack of eating and night terrors.

The doctor keeps fobbing me off saying it s a virus it will clear some spring! They gave me antihistamines to try and a nasal spray both of which had no effect.

His diet had become so limited since this blocked nose started as well and he's living off pretty much toast and bread at the moment.

At my wits end- should I put harder for a referral to ENT?

Very long waits for ENT. Could you afford to go private? My DS has had nasal problems but NHS not interested despite getting an appointment with a consultant plus having a CT on his sinuses. Have a think if anything has changed in the last few months that could cause an allergy such as a pet, new carpet, scented candle etc. My DS is 21 now, works from home so limits his exposure but still seems like he has a permanent cold and won't date because of it. The most success we had was a couple of very short courses of oral steroids and next year he's going to try a steroid injection which is only available privately. We have never found the cause of the problem but the NHS didn't help. I was told to try a salt lamp in his room. But never tried it. Trips to the seaside helped.

I'd treat it first as though he has dust mite allergy and follow the steps in the link. He might improve or may not but at least you will have epilated one very common cause.

If he's still very nasal afterwards then yes, do go back and insist on a referral.

The No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers & Preschoolers might help, especially with the early wakings.

And if his behaviour has been affected have Nursery suggested anything?