mel Report post Posted February 9, 2006 Or rather, lack of it. S is 5 and goes to bed at 7. trouble is, he goes to sleep at about 12 or 1 ish. he wakes up on the dot of 5 and frankly i am exhausted. He isnt. he seems to be able to cope with his 4-5 hours very well. I have tried warm baths, keeping him up later (this one caused major probs cos he insists its his bedtime when the clock hits 7 and doesnt like his routine messed with), running him ragged and more. does anyone have any ideas on how i can get him to sleep earlier. I also tried hot milk but he doesnt like milk. any help would be appreciated cos i am getting cranky with lack of sleep. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redberry Report post Posted February 9, 2006 Don't know if this appropriate for you and yours, but sorted my S aged 8 out a couple of years ago, sleepwise that is! We used homoeopathy and although it took a couple of remedies it worked like a dream! Seriously saved our sanity. I expect youve tried the soothing music, lavendar oil and massage? And thats just for the parents! Oh lack of sleep is AWFUL hope you get some soon redberry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaisyProudfoot Report post Posted February 9, 2006 I'd agree with Lavender Oil - as long as it's the essential oil. I started putting a few drops on the toddler's pyjamas when he wasn't sleeping and he shares a room with my AS son. Since then AS son sleeps better too, just from the fumes - still talks in his sleep all night though! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KarenT Report post Posted February 9, 2006 Would he respond to bribery? A mini-prize every night he goes to sleep at the time you specify and a bigger one to work towards at the end of the week? I agree with Lavender. You could also add a couple of drops of Lemon Oil (NOT lemongrass) - the two together are like knockout drops. But I suspect your little angel would wake you regardless, so he's the one to work on I think. Karen x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phasmid Report post Posted February 9, 2006 I have sleep disorders of my own so I really know what sleep deprevation can do to you - it's not nice. In your son's case it seems he has got his body clock ticking quite nicely for him. I take it the problem is he's waking the rest of you up at 5am. If so can you not find him something to do for two hours when he wakes. Anything? The advice from my specialists is to get up and do something if I can't sleep. So I do until I get tired again. So turning that advice to your situation I'm thinking that if you can't live with it, control it. By having an agreed activity to do (in his room) it would at least leave you to sleep longer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mel Report post Posted February 9, 2006 unfortunately the first thing he wants to do when he wakes is eat. im gonna plump for the oils i think. if he would just fall asleep at about 10 that would give me enough sleep time too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jb1964 Report post Posted February 9, 2006 Always had trouble with my daughter not sleeping - she's 12 now and still not a great sleeper - she seems to manage on much less hours than the norm (although having said that she does occasional feel tired!!!). We tried everything and to be honest not much worked - we did have a spell last year - where one of the CPN at the unit taped a relaxation script for her and she would listen to that (the only thing was she'd fall asleep with it on her head - which sometimes could wake her up later). Lavender or any other sort of aromapathy oil wasn't any use as she's highly sensitive to smells and these would make her feel sick (have to say that I haven't got AS but lavender is too strong for me and can cause me to have a migraine) - but know loads of people that swear by it (my mum for one). All I can really say is that it got easier for me the older she got as these days I go to bed around 11pm and just leave her reading in her bedroom (she's not allowed any console like DS etc) and usually by around 12.30-1'ish I hear the light click off (unless of course she's on a mission reading a book and usually won't switch off until she's finished the book!!!). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justamom Report post Posted February 9, 2006 jb1964 I do exactly the same with my 12yr old son. I too can leave him in his room and he usually falls asleep around 2ish at least thats what time I get up to go to the loo and switch the lights off. Does your daughter get up ok in morning for school or do you have problems waking her??? justamom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flora Report post Posted February 9, 2006 William (12) has had trouble sleeping all his life. Up untile school age he would go to bed at 7pm on the dot like clockwork. But he'd be awake by 2am and that would be it for the night. When he started school it was reversed, in that he couldn't get to sleep until about 2am then would be like trying to waken the dead to get him up for school. He has recently been prescribed melatonin, which has given him (and me) the first full nights sleep ever in 12 years! Lauren Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mum22boys Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Just a thought and probably a rubbish one which you may have already tried. If he's hungry at five could you not put a few biscuits in a container next to his bed so he can reach for them first thing. We have to do the same with M because he wants juice all the time so he goes to bed with a bottle of juice. Not saying it will cure the problem but maybe if he's not hungry he may get up and play for a while rather than wake you. Like i said probably a stupid suggestion! mum22boys Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mel Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Thats not a stupid suggestion, i will try that along with the oils. thank you <'> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lil_me Report post Posted February 10, 2006 (edited) Whats sleep ? Your childs sleeping pattern is almost identical to my sons, apart from my son wakes about 2am aswell. And thats with Melatonin, he's done it from about 14 months old. People say try wearing him out, that just makes him worse, after Thursday evening PE at school then swimming he sleeps even less Someone suggested Epsom (sp) salts which I am going to try. Edited February 10, 2006 by lil_me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jb1964 Report post Posted February 10, 2006 (edited) jb1964 I do exactly the same with my 12yr old son. I too can leave him in his room and he usually falls asleep around 2ish at least thats what time I get up to go to the loo and switch the lights off. Does your daughter get up ok in morning for school or do you have problems waking her??? justamom Hi Justamom, Depends - I think generally if she gets to sleep pretty soon after she's turned the light off then she's not too bad - although if I can hear her singing to herself afterwards or if she's had any sort of pain (tummy ache/sick/leg cramps etc) I know she's not going to sleep for a while (she seems to focus on any sort of pain when she's trying to go to sleep!!!) so sometimes I do have problems in the morning. And the thing is in the mornings she needs to be up a good hour or more before she leaves for school (usually up around 6.45) because she is very slow in getting ready and has to follow the routine planner that the CPN did with her. Edited February 10, 2006 by jb1964 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oracle Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Sleep Deprivation gets better as you get older - YOU being YOU - not the kids. I am amazed that I now survive on 5 tops 6 hours of sleep most nights but can survive on less. When I was much younger sleep deprivation crippled me and now it's not an issue. So there are some positives to becoming an old codger No help at all really. Carole Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tracey Report post Posted February 10, 2006 sleep is a real problem for my 14 y old most nights its gone midnight as she says she just cant drop off also reads for ages and sneakily watches tv which I am going to take out of her room sun-fri as she is not getting up for school I am also going to try horlicks you never know T Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SallyM Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Someone suggested Epsom (sp) salts which I am going to try. We had good results with these, DS3 went off to sleep quite quickly after bathing in them but be warned, they did make him more hyper the next day, I think possibly the result of so much sleep Its definitely worth a go though. As for being hungry, DS1 ( aged 7 AS ) and DS2 (aged 4 NT) can both make themselves breakfast in the morning and then sit to watch TV til I get up, its much nicer in the mornings now they have learnt how to do it! Its a skill worth getting them to learn IMHO! Sally Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lil_me Report post Posted February 11, 2006 I know exactly what you mean carole, I am so used to it now after 7 years that if I get too much sleep I feel terrible and am very grumpy. Sounds insane doesn't it. Last time I tried to get my son to make his own breakfast we had a giant portion of coco pops I almost full box and 3 pints of milk from bench to floor, what a mess Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
