QuirkyMotherOf2
10-05-2004, 12:58 AM
We keep a consistent bedtime with my son, he has a story, he gets his blankie and a drink. However, he always opens his door. We have an hour of him getting up and putting him back to bed. I don't know what to do. Anyone have any suggestions?
Sponsor
ang64063
10-05-2004, 10:23 AM
We just had the opposite thing happen with my daughter. She would go to sleep but would wake up about 2-3 hours before she was suppose to.
What I would suggest is this: Try this one first give a bath in Epsom Salts. Start out with 1/2 cup in very warm water. If your child tollerates it well, you can up it to 3/4 and so on until you reach 2 cups. What this does is it brings a lot of toxins to the skin's surface. When the water cools, the toxins leave the body. I would suggest you try and get him to soak for at least 20 minutes.
If that does not work you can try Melatonin or Valerian Root.
If that does not work you can do what I did last night. About an hour or so before bedtime, feed him 2 servings of oatmeal, a small glass of regular milk, 2 multi digestive enzymes from GNC and a Valerian Root Capsule. My daughter ate this and she was sound asleep within 45 minutes (15 minutes before bedtime) and she stayed in bed.
If you have a problem with him getting up and you not hearing him, you can try mounting one of those First Alert Door Alarms (the ones they advertise on TV) to the top of the bedroom door and put it on "chime". What this does is it alerts you to when the door is opening, so you don't have to worry about finding him playing in stuff that could hurt him. If you do this, I would suggest that you remove anything that he can move and climb up on to get to the alarm and shut it off.
What I would suggest is this: Try this one first give a bath in Epsom Salts. Start out with 1/2 cup in very warm water. If your child tollerates it well, you can up it to 3/4 and so on until you reach 2 cups. What this does is it brings a lot of toxins to the skin's surface. When the water cools, the toxins leave the body. I would suggest you try and get him to soak for at least 20 minutes.
If that does not work you can try Melatonin or Valerian Root.
If that does not work you can do what I did last night. About an hour or so before bedtime, feed him 2 servings of oatmeal, a small glass of regular milk, 2 multi digestive enzymes from GNC and a Valerian Root Capsule. My daughter ate this and she was sound asleep within 45 minutes (15 minutes before bedtime) and she stayed in bed.
If you have a problem with him getting up and you not hearing him, you can try mounting one of those First Alert Door Alarms (the ones they advertise on TV) to the top of the bedroom door and put it on "chime". What this does is it alerts you to when the door is opening, so you don't have to worry about finding him playing in stuff that could hurt him. If you do this, I would suggest that you remove anything that he can move and climb up on to get to the alarm and shut it off.
lilmermaid
10-12-2004, 11:48 AM
I second the Melatonin suggestion. We used it occasionally on our son, when he's so wound up we know he won't go to sleep. Our pediatrician recommended it, and from all the reading I've done about it, there are no worrisome side effects.
Regarding the "opening the door". My son used to always be able to go to sleep with his bedroom door closed. But just in the last year or so, he has wanted his bedroom door open when he goes to bed. So, we leave it open, and he was more willing to stay in his bed then. I think it was a nighttime fear, of some sort.
I hope it starts getting better for you! :)
Regarding the "opening the door". My son used to always be able to go to sleep with his bedroom door closed. But just in the last year or so, he has wanted his bedroom door open when he goes to bed. So, we leave it open, and he was more willing to stay in his bed then. I think it was a nighttime fear, of some sort.
I hope it starts getting better for you! :)
Lisa in Indiana
10-14-2004, 10:54 PM
I just wanted to add that you can also add 3-4 drops of lavender oil into the bath water along with the Epsom's. It has a soothing and calming affect.
This was recommended by our DAN! doctor.
This was recommended by our DAN! doctor.
blessedmom
11-27-2004, 10:59 PM
If he is afraid, you might want to try putting a gate in front of his door so the door can be left open but he can't get out so you will be able to sleep peacefully without wondering if he is roaming the house and getting hurt on something.
mme4johnny
11-28-2004, 10:46 AM
When our son was about 2 he started the getting out of bed routine and wandering down the halls. I am a hard sleeper and my husband and I worried we would not hear him. I called our handyman and his wife gave us a great suggestion.
We installed a lock on the outside of his door and a peephole so we could look in and make sure everything was okay. We removed anything he could hurt himself on. After a week of that he never gets out of his bed. He calls for us in the morning to come get him.
We installed a lock on the outside of his door and a peephole so we could look in and make sure everything was okay. We removed anything he could hurt himself on. After a week of that he never gets out of his bed. He calls for us in the morning to come get him.
tigeress_181
11-29-2004, 06:01 AM
I agree with the Melatonin, I use it for my son on an occasional basis 1/4 to 1/2 a tablet when needed (I do not abuse the use of it). It is natural and you cannot overdose. The worst that could happen should a kid get into them is that they sleep for nearly a day.
Melatonin is being trialed for autistic children in the U.S.A but can be bought from overseas and shipped here provided you have a script for the use of it.
Melatonin is a jet lag medication originally....used to set your internal clock when travelling overseas.
Melatonin is being trialed for autistic children in the U.S.A but can be bought from overseas and shipped here provided you have a script for the use of it.
Melatonin is a jet lag medication originally....used to set your internal clock when travelling overseas.
Asperger family
12-03-2004, 01:40 PM
Someone posted something about feeding oatmeal up above, I do the exact same thing with my son. Feed him oatmeal and milk to help him sleep. He also does not like to sleep alone, he would rather watch tv and fall asleep that way(his dad is the same way) Usually he doesnt get up and roam the house,(he did when he was younger_) unless he is up and is playing. He usually comes to my bedroom and tries to get into bed with me or makes a pallet on the floor next to my bed.I know he is 7, but I let him sleep with me sometimes, because it makes him feel good to cuddle up to mom and fall asleep. I find that sometimes, when he is too active or cranky to sleep, i can grab a blanket, wrap him up with me and he will fall right asleep.Funny how a child with sensory issues who only likes to be touched when he feels the need to be touched, needs that kind of reassurance to sleep. Also, from his occupational therapists, she has given me plastic little brushes to use. I only have to use them now when he is having a meltdown(rare anymore) it can change his whole attitude in a matter of seconds. I have to brush his whole body down and he seems to like it, if he cant sleep now, he will tell me to calm him down by laying pillows on top of him or brushing him.So I think he knows now what is going on with him at those times.
ana b
12-06-2004, 09:59 PM
you can try a medication called clonidine.my daughters doctor gave it to her to help her sleep.
ang64063
12-07-2004, 10:24 AM
I am goingto suggest to my daughter doctor that they put her on clonidine. My son was on it some time back and it worked really good.
krisssusan
01-13-2005, 01:10 AM
we wnt thru somethin similar, we had to develp his pattern over time...when he kept getting out of bed we would just block the door, we gave him 1/2 of 'quiet time' where he can watch tv quietly...helps him calm down IN the bed, then he sleeps with either the radio on low or a mock aquarium for white noise...when he does get up sometimes, as they go through these stages, we immediately make him get back in bed...dont develop a pattern, such as letting him have drink or huggy time...go directly back to bed...after awhile he should realize his efforts are fruitless.....it also would help to know if he can understand these interventions ...???
krisssusan
01-13-2005, 01:11 AM
also, he gets gabitril before bed now