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 4 yr. old wakes up constantly
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JennMomTo3 Junior Member  Posts: 6 |
posted 09-03-2003 01:52 AM
  
Hello, I have a 4 yr. old so that wakes up constantly during the night crying. He is already on medicine to help him sleep. If he doesn't take his medicine he only sleeps a couple of hours. Now he goes to bed around 10:00 pm and gets up around 6:30am. He doesn't sleep this whole time. He wakes up at least 4 times a night sometimes he goes right back to sleep and others he is up for an hour. We have had to put a child lock on the fridge because he was fetting up all hours of the night and getting into everything in it. Do any of you have suggestions on how to help him sleep better. It is very rough on me with two other kids ages 18 months and 4 months. The two younger ones have been sleeping all night as long as his screaming doesn't wake them up. He has never really slept through the night. He has also been diagnosed with ADHD. I don't know if this has anything to do with it or not. If anyone has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You, Jenn IP: Logged |
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mlgable Senior Veteran  Posts: 5459 |
posted 09-03-2003 08:31 AM
First thing at 4 years of age he should be going to be a lot earlier than 10 PM in my opinion. Also since he has ADHD this could well be part of the problem. I do hope though that they tested your son thoroughly before reaching that diagnosis as many kids do not get the proper testing before this diagnosis is made. My daughter does not have ADD but was diagnosed with ADD tendencies in which her brain is constantly in gear with thought running through her head continuously. This causes her to get distracted and causes her to have trouble falling asleep as she doesn't know how to shut off her brain. I am wondering if having your child see a counselor to help him discuss his sleep problems would help. My children are 12 & 13 and even they are not allowed to stay up until 10 unless it is the weekend or summer break from school. 8:30 is time to get ready for bed so that they are in bed before 9 PM. You may want to try an earlier bedtime with a set bedtime routine such as a bath, brush your teeth and then a bedtime story with the lights turned low. IP: Logged |
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jboon Senior Member Posts: 112 |
posted 09-06-2003 12:46 AM
JennMom, My son does have ADHD and takes Strattera AND Ritalin. Concerta kept him up till all hours of the night, and no meds kept him wired and sleeping restlessly. He's never been a good sleeper and yes, ADHD has a lot to do with that. One thing that didn't help my son but has helped others with ADHD fall asleep better is to take a low dose (5mg) of Ritalin about one hour before bedtime. For my son, the Strattera helps his sleeping, his general hyperactivity, and his anxiety level (which can also interfere with sleep patterns). The Ritalin helps his focusing (Strattera doesn't work for that, for him). The Strattera also seems to prevent the Ritalin let down that can be hard to handle. Does your son sleepwalk, talk in his sleep, or have night terrors? Those are also common in people with ADHD. My son has gone through all three (he's 11) and is now, thank goodness, down to just talking in his sleep. (As much as he runs his mouth througout the day, you'd think his body would need a break at night IP: Logged |
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JennMomTo3 Junior Member Posts: 6 |
posted 09-07-2003 10:51 AM
JBoon, Thanks for the reply. He is currently taking Concerta (third week) and Clonidine at night to help him sleep. He has done a lot better during the day, but nights are not. His ped was going to put him on Strattera but when he went to the behavior specialist the next day for the first time he said he was too young. That's why he is on the concerta. We have tried the Adderall, but no luck. During the night he have night terrors and talks in his sleep. A lot of nights he will scream for me or my husband and when we go in his room he is sound asleep. He was so wore out last night I was sure he would sleep all night, but I was wrong. Here lately he wakes up constantly wanting something to eat or drink. If we don't give him a little something all he will do is scream. We've tried ignoring him, but he adventually wakes up the other tqo kids. I've got where I give him a little snack before he goes to bed and he still gets up. Thanks for any suggestions. Jenn IP: Logged |
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Sarah68 Senior Veteran Posts: 1392 |
posted 09-07-2003 05:31 PM
Just out of interest, has he had vaccines if any and what did he have? How long ago were these vaccines? IP: Logged |
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momof3mjt Member Posts: 69 |
posted 09-07-2003 07:39 PM
I was wondering if you have had him checked for food allergies. I just went to a seminar on ADHD and the doctor told us that we should not give these kids anything but WHOLE milk and REAL butter. Then he went into a very lengthy discussion on why....it made lots of sense. ADHD is a chemical imbalance in the brain, and certain foods and allergies can make this a lot worse. I would suggest you write down everything he eats, when he eats it, and either ask his doctor about it, or a nutrionist. Good luck! IP: Logged |
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JennMomTo3 Junior Member Posts: 6 |
posted 09-07-2003 09:54 PM
Thanks for the replies and suggestions. Sarah68, He hasn't had any vaccines in a while, I can't remember the dates and what they were off the top of my head. I'll let you know later when I get his record out. Would this have something to do with it? If so which vaccines? Thanks for the info. Lindy, We give him whole milk, one reason is he is so skinny. We also tyr to watch what he eats and drinks. He is not allowed anything with orange coloring, it makes him a lot worse. He gets very little sugar and very little caffine if any. Are there any other things that you were told to avoid? If so I would be very happy to know them. He goes to his behavior specialist Tuesday and I will ask him if he has any suggestions on foods. Thanks alot for the info. Thanks to everyone with information that replies. Jenn IP: Logged |
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Sarah68 Senior Veteran Posts: 1392 |
posted 09-08-2003 06:55 AM
It is possible that there could be a link between this and the vaccines yes. The development of things such as ADHD and sleep problems could be related to vaccines. Anyway, I would like to suggest something that I feel could really help your son. I don't know whether you have heard of CranioSacral Therapy, but if not, it could be very helpful and could help to calm him down and help him to sleep better. It is a very gentle, but extremely powerful form of therapy that includes a very light touch that is totally non-invasive and he would just have to lie on a couch fully clothed or lie or sit however he felt most comfortable. No clicking or anything and nothing painful at all and a lot of children become so relaxed that they actually fall asleep during the treatment. Anyway, CranioSacral Therapy was originally discovered by Osteopathic Doctors, but then in 1976 Dr John Upledger DO re-discovered this again in the course of assisting in a surgical procedure and this led him to investigate further. He carried out scientific investigations into it and he was the person who eventually named it CranioSacral Therapy. He wrote a book called CranioSacral Therapy Touchstone for Natural Healing that explains all the scientific theory behind it, so if you want to know more, then it is a good read. Also, he has set up an institute where he practices called the Upledger Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He also has a website and if you were interested you could look it up and get more information from there. He seems to have extremely good results with children and if you ring the Institute for more information, they can recommend a good Therapist in your area. Good luck IP: Logged |
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worriedmommy Junior Member Posts: 9 |
posted 09-08-2003 11:12 PM
My 3 year old wakes up alot crying and we found out that he has sleep apnea. He is getting his tonsils and adnoids removed in 2 weeks. Have you seen an ENT? Just a thought. IP: Logged |
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OneDayAtATime Member Posts: 37 |
posted 09-08-2003 11:17 PM
Bummer! Brings back memories for me. My little guy woke up screaming every night until he was 3.5 years old. I knew he was in pain from the type of cry. I just didn't know what was hurting him. I woke my Mom up every night from leg, neck, and back pain. If the pain didn't wake me, then excessive night coughing and nightmares also woke me. Three years ago, I went to an allergist at the urging of a good friend. The allergist took one look at me and said I had a milk protein allergy. One blood test later, sure enough milk protein allergy. When I dumped the milk products and ingredients (whey, lactose, caseine, cheese, yogurt, and milk) the muscle pain and night coughing went away. It worked so well for me, I tried it on my little guy. His blood test came back saying he was not allergic to milk but I eliminated the milk products anyway. He is a very good sound sleeper now and I am a very happy well rested Mommy. BTW, my little guy has PDD/NOS. I don't believe that the sleep disturbances had anything to do with the PDD/NOS. I hope you get some answers and some help. IP: Logged |
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Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46
I really didn't "sleep through the night" until I was 38 years old.