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6 year old STILL has sleep issues. CAN'T DO THIS ANY MORE!!!!!!

19 replies

Krustyandthekids · 16/03/2013 14:00

Help, please.

DH and I now at the end of our tether and can't carry on like this. DS (6.5) is still waking consistently in the night.

I feel like we have tried everything over the last 6 years... CC, shush/pat, calming, anger, co-sleeping, sleeping in with him, yoga, crying (all of us) and more.

He wakes every night, comes into our room and says he's had a bad dream, gets sent/taken back to bed then sobs (you know, that sob which isn't really a sob but you can't get to sleep because of it?!) until we go in, speak to him, calm him (or get cross with him - depends on which time (number) this is that he has got up. If we let him sob (!) then he wakes DS (2y). If we go in with him he stops. But we can't do that any more. It's been too long.

DH and I both work (me part time and him from 5am) and it's getting to the point where we can't cope in the middle of the night any more and all rationalisation has gone out of the window (on both sides).

I know you can't really help MNrs but I just need some love right now. I have an appointment to see the paed doc at the centre on Monday for some advise but in the meantime, you're it!

I have even written to Channel 4 in desperation as they're running a sleep clinic programme soon. I would HATE to be on telly but it seems to be the only option which doesn't involve paying someone lots of money to help us. Sad

Sorry to vent but only way sometimes!!!
x

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Krustyandthekids · 16/03/2013 19:38

Aaaggghh - very cross with the little lad today and felt guilty all day. Help Sad Blush
Only one thing for it tonight Wine

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stargirl1701 · 16/03/2013 19:39

Sibling co-sleeping?

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bamboostalks · 16/03/2013 19:41

Some sleep consultants can be inexpensive, they do phone consultations as well. It sounds as if it would be money well spent. Poor you. How does 2 year of sleep?

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Pollydon · 16/03/2013 19:43

Hand holding Flowers
I had this till ds was 2.5 ,& got a place in a sleep clinic .

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liger · 16/03/2013 19:49

What is he like during the day? Do you have any behavioural concerns other than sleep? How is he at school? Would you say he is anxious at all?
Much sympathy to all of you.

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juule · 16/03/2013 19:56

Sleeping mat/ camp bed in your room that he can get into when he wakes in the night?
This worked for us with one of ours who eventually just stopped coming in.

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Floralnomad · 16/03/2013 20:03

My daughter is even older and has never really slept well ,she comes in our bed in the middle of the night and one or both of us move into hers ( she has a double) .Im sure she will grow out of it eventually . On the odd occasion she sleeps all night but it is rare . Can't one of you just go and sleep in his bed its not ideal but at least you're all asleep .

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Krustyandthekids · 16/03/2013 21:29

Thanks guys - no behavioral issues Liger - he's a bright, happy boy and is doing well with reading and writing at school. He does get anxious though - at Telly / atmospheric music etc.

I'm worried about putting DS2 in with him incase DS1 ends up waking him. At the moment it's a bit of a bribe hook - he needs to be good for 3 nights in a row and I will put DS2 in with him.

we have tried going in with him (although it's usually me as DH has to get up at 4.30am to go to work and TBH I'm crap unless I sleep in MY lovely bed.

Seeing doctor on Monday and will take advise about how to approach but in them meantime, thank you for the support, means a lot. Hope tonight doesn't end up being a disaster as we have my nephew here for a sleepover.

Floral, I hope (am sure) it is something he will grow out of but he's just a bloody PIA sometimes and I cannot cope with him in our bed as, on the rare occasions he's been in there, has been either too hot, too wriggly or just huffs a lot (even if DH goes into his)

Ho hum, and so it goes on!

Just gets to the point where you can't cope any more and can't think what to do ISWIM x

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Isabella1978 · 16/03/2013 21:43

Melatonin gummy sweets from Biovea work a treat

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Krustyandthekids · 16/03/2013 22:01

Thanks Isabella - are they OK for smaller kids (he's 6)...

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Loislane78 · 16/03/2013 22:30

Shit, that sounds rough on all of you - here WineWine

No advice as I just have a 7 mo but my MIK tells me my SIL used to "terrorise" them demanding they got up at silly o'clock and refusing to go to sleep when she was 2.5/3 yo. Their HV told them to put her in with newborn baby brother and apparently she was a dream afterwards.

Hope you get some help (and sleep :))

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Loislane78 · 16/03/2013 22:30

*MIL

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juule · 16/03/2013 23:36

" I cannot cope with him in our bed as, on the rare occasions he's been in there, has been either too hot, too wriggly or just huffs a lot"
That's why I suggested the camp bed (or variation of it). I couldn't sleep with them in bed with me so needed another solution. Sleeping in the same room or having that option available helped us all get some sleep.

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crazycrush · 17/03/2013 09:10

That is so hard. This is what worked for us with an almost 5 year old ( has slept through for the past 3 months, knock on wood.

  • withdrawing privileges if he wakes us up at night (instead of rewarding sleeping through)
  • got a fibre optic lamp for the kids bedroom it's pretty and helps him settle if he wakes up
  • all three kids together in the room (3, 5 and 6 months)
  • I was so fed up that I told him seriously to not wake me up anymore..before I was a bit half hearted about him staying in his bed... (not saying that you aren't serious about your child sleeping.. you sound like you are truly fed up now so probably have told him)


We also have tried all tricks mentioned in the thread and nothing else worked.. Maybe he just grew out of it after 5 years..
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RandomMess · 17/03/2013 09:14

Give him a mattress/camping mat on your floor.

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crazycrush · 17/03/2013 09:18

Our DC had nights where the mattress (right next to me) wouldn't be enough and he howled next to me ... I really lost the plot then...

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Krustyandthekids · 17/03/2013 21:37

Oh Crazy - that sounds REALLY tough! I think the camp bed will be the option. He's SO desperate to have his little brother in with him so LoisLane perhaps that's another answer but he has to prove to me that he can do at least 1 night all night through.

I would hate to ruin his little bro by making him wake up too.

I think something like a nice lamp with lights would be nice that he can touch/interact with if he wakes up would be good.

Thanks for being there guys... it really helps to know that there are other people who have been through similar things Flowers

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Loislane78 · 18/03/2013 21:11

What about one of these - stay in bed until you see the sun!

gro.co.uk/gro-clock

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shoesontheglasslamp · 18/03/2013 21:19

Something you said about your DS reminded me of me - about the tv and music. I've often been told I have a sensitive nature (!).

I found it hard to switch off at bedtime, and kept thinking about all sorts of stuff. The radio being on really helped, still does. It gives me something else to think about and makes it easier to drift off. Maybe story CDs that he is familiar with - like a friend for company?

Hope you got some help at your appointment.

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