Sleep or LACK OFF..!!

I have Four boys, Three on the Spectrum.

Each Child is prescribed Melatonin(3mgs-9mgs)

Our sons go to bed at 6:00/7:00pm every night but are, without failure awake every morning at 3/5am. We have tried putting them to bed much later, sometimes upto Midnight, to break this routine they're all in, but without fail they awake at the same time.

After many days of tears, tiredness and utter mayhem, we are so tired we have to revert back to the 6-7pm bedtime, to ensure they have some decent sleep and are more settled in the day, especially at School!

When they wake, we can't leave them unattended, even thou' we have most doors downstairs locked (One son is Harry Houdini!) the bathroom often suffers loo roll assults and toothpaste is eaten like icecream!

 

Is there ANY form of medication, or a magical learnt cure to allow them to be awake later in the evening, but wake at a more 'Mum and Dad' Social time IE anything after 6am, or is this a common issue and will Coffee be forever my Best Friend!

Parents
  • Our son is 9 and has High Functioning Autism.  We can relate to sleep difficulties albeit more often about settling than getting up during the night.  Something we have not yet tried but have heard can help, if your kids like deep pressure, is weighted duvets. We are thinking of trying this so if anyone has experience of this would be great to hear your thoughts.

    A hot water bottle with a fluffy, cuddly cover has helped us somewhat, along with a lava lamp, warm milk and reading torch.  We are just embarking on melatonin now but going to have to add to milk or food as he cannot swallow the v.small capsules without gagging. 

    I take my hat off to you settleing 3 children.  Hopefully you will find something that works for you on here. 

     

Reply
  • Our son is 9 and has High Functioning Autism.  We can relate to sleep difficulties albeit more often about settling than getting up during the night.  Something we have not yet tried but have heard can help, if your kids like deep pressure, is weighted duvets. We are thinking of trying this so if anyone has experience of this would be great to hear your thoughts.

    A hot water bottle with a fluffy, cuddly cover has helped us somewhat, along with a lava lamp, warm milk and reading torch.  We are just embarking on melatonin now but going to have to add to milk or food as he cannot swallow the v.small capsules without gagging. 

    I take my hat off to you settleing 3 children.  Hopefully you will find something that works for you on here. 

     

Children
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