Sleep problems

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Sleep problems
2
Tue, 09-20-2005 - 10:17pm
Anyone have a child with sleep issues? My dd is almost 3 and is having sleep issues. She probably has for awhile, but we have more recently become more aware. She just can't seem to keep a pattern down. She may wake up at 7 am one day, 9 am another, 11 am another. She may need a nap, not need a nap, sleep for 3 hours when she naps. She often gets a second wind at night and then we have trouble settling her down. Sometimes she wakes up in the middle of the night (12 midnight, or 3 or 4 am), sometimes related to peeing a diaper (I think) and sometimes we just hear her talking/babbling/playing in her crib. She can be so fussy in the morning and dysregulated (emotionally/behaviorally), I know a lot is related to her language issues but I can't help but wonder how much this sleep problem is also impacting her ability to function. Any suggestions?? Should I consider a sleep specialist?? Also, what about seratonin, etc? She does have low muscle tone, too and I have heard this can impact a kid's sleep.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: jennaleeck
Wed, 09-21-2005 - 6:34am

your situation sounds alot like ours a year ago. my now 3 year old went down to sleep ok, but would wake up continously through the night. then he would be unbarable in the morning. at one point, it came to a head. he would wake in the night and scream and flail for hours and hours. i was exhausted beyond words and he was not able to function at all. our DIR psychologist referred us to a child psychiatrist where we agreed to try him on risperdal. yes, it is a major medication, but this was a very serious problem. it has been a godsend. we still have tiny wake ups, but he is much happier. he has not gained any excess weight either.

i'm not saying that your child is the same, but when you said dysregulated it hit home for sure. prior to risperdal, i had exhausted the use of melatonin, benadryl, atarax and every other cold remedy i thought might knock him out to sleep. do try the melatonin. an occasional dose of benadryl can be helpful. also, see if you can push her through her naps. try a bath with epsom salts before bed--1/2 c. of salts in water, soaking for 20 minutes. try joint compressions. check out her room. i had to remove all the cute little deco's in there to reduce stimuli. try a weighted blanket. look at everything from a sensory point of view.

LMK if this helps or you have more questions, valerie

~Valerie
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
In reply to: jennaleeck
Thu, 09-22-2005 - 9:02am
Thanks for your response. I guess I will call our psychologist and see if she has any referals for sleep specialists/psychiatrists. I am just starting to put together how much this might be impacting her life. Mornings are so hard for her. Today I woke up at 6 am, hearing her talk, don't know how long it had been going on. So I got her up, she was in a good mood. She ended up crashing at 9 am. I just don't know what to do anymore... She does have a lot of loveys (blankets, princess dolls, bunny, dolly) in her crib, but of course I wonder how she will transition out of having them in her crib??? I'll have to pick up some Epsom salts. What type of Melatonin did you try? Do you just buy it off the counter or is there something specifically made for kids?? Thanks again.