Nearing crisis point

hngrymummy

big hugs xx

He may be picking up on your anxieties, which won't help at all.

Have you considered something like cranial osteopathy? It worked really well for my friend's son.

I was also advised that if I go to the dr about lack of sleep I should stress how difficult I was finding it to cope. Another friend got referred much quicker that way.

jenhug

you can buy melatonin online direct from america. you don't need a prescription for it over there. In your current situation I would throw all caution to the wind and stick him in bed with you. you all need some sleep!

FBaby

DON'T BUY MELATONIN ONLINE. This is not medication to mess about with, especially with a toddler. If even a GP can't prescribe it (because it would have been considered by NHS expert it is a specialised drug to be only prescribed by an expert consultant), then how can someone with no medical experience know whether it is safe?


Your GP has done the right thing referring you to an expert at this stage. The problem with a very poorly sleeping toddler is that everything becomes a vicious circle and it is unlikely that only one factor is involved. Your desperation will make it hard to take a step back and not let emotions take over. The paeditrician will be able to prescribe the right dose, and/or referring you to a sleep clinic.

Good luck with the HV, but don't expect much from it. Most likely she will tell you all the things you have already heard and try.

My heart really goes to you. I've been there and it is hell. It's been 10 years and I still get chills when I remember this period. Every day feels like weeks. Hang on and hope you get to see the paediatrician soon enough of that things get better before you do.

Morglin

When my toddler son went through this, many years ago, I found that putting a low light in the room, putting a radio on low, and leaving his toys available helped.

He also had a beaker of juice and a couple of biscuits, by his bed.

We gave him no attention if he woke up, and so he kept himself amused with his toys. Obviously, we had a gate on his doorway.

Within a month or two he had got fed up with being ignored, and started to sleep through properly.

Lin

meer53

Let him in your bed. It's not worth everyone being frazzled every night is it ? He won't stay there forever.

notanewuser

meer53 wrote: »

Let him in your bed. It's not worth everyone being frazzled every night is it ? He won't stay there forever.

This. It sounds like he wants you with him at night. My DD doesn't sleep in with us often anymore, but if she does she often reaches a foot or hand out in her sleep just to check I'm there.

I'd be trying that before drugging him!

Make-it-3

I agree, see if you can re-jig your sleeping arrangements for a bit so you sleep with the little one and your partner elsewhere. It sounds like you haven't tried that yet.

It may be simply insecurity/separation anxiety if he wakes when you leave the room. And its something you can do straight away before your paed referral. I'd certainly want to be doing the simple stuff like this before considering medication.

sacha28

Hi guys, thanks for your further comments they are appreciated!

We have spoken long and hard about letting him our bed but, as touched on in a pp, my OH is epileptic and can sometimes have 'clonic jerks'. This means he can jerk quite violently in his sleep and kick/hit out (not in a violent way, just involuntarily) and we worry about our lo being hit. It doesn't happen often at all but there are no warning signs. Due to the lack of sleep they have happened more lately.

I don't hold out much hope on the HV, they have known and been involved from an early stage (when I was about to embark on my return to work yet was up sometimes 12 times a night) and don't seem to have come up with much we haven't tried. She agrees that sharing a bed is not in anyone's interest due to the risks involved.

I guess we just have to sit and wait to see the specialist. We are all frazzled, grumpy and my house is a tip but hey-ho!

MrsAtobe

I really do appreciate that this isn't an ideal suggestion, but how about you sleeping with your little boy in your bed, and your OH sleeping in another? At least your OH might get a decent night's sleep that way, enough to bring the clonic jerks to a minimum. Please think about this, at least on the nights before your OH has to work.

sacha28

FWIW, I would also like to say that I would NEVER give my son medication bought on the internet. Firstly, you never know if that's what you're getting and, secondly, if only a paediatrician is licensed to prescribe this then it needs to be given under controlled circumstances.

I think that is a terrible piece of advice, sorry.

I work in healthcare so am fully aware of the dangers of following advice like this. Other, desperate, people who aren't fully aware may think this is the answer to their prayers and do it, putting their lo's life in danger.

Don't want to sound ungrateful for all of your advice but this I won't be doing!