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Susie thanks, we have often thought about a trampoline as he likes to bounce so much on his bed, but doesn't know how to bounce himself on a trampoline yet, although I'm sure that will come....going to invest in one for garden when weather, if weather, ever improves!

Thanks Sharon, I use a pill cutter and cut it probably into 8 pieces, but yes your right I know its not ideal, I really don't know how else to give, if I try to hide in food he will spit out, yoghurt has been my only success, a women at his school puts one in a jaffa cake and he eats it whole, but my son hates cakes, chocolate, biscuits (I'm sure he isn't my son sometimes :-) ) he only eats quavers as they dissolve and his main meals, which obviously would be given before pill is due. Unfortunately he also still uses a bottle, it drives me crazy but I have 20 different beakers and about 3 different cups, his OT and school teachers all try but he goes all day without drinking unless on bottle so it means pill won't go through teat!

I have now changed his bed time from 7pm to 745 pm so will see if that makes a difference.

Thanks also intense world, I have ordered a canopy for his bedroom and a CD with white noise, sounds etc....he does also have bubble lamp but I find he tries to pull it over when left alone with it.

Jo

Hi Jo

it sounds like you must be crushing the circadin tablets? If you do this then they will be faster release than intended. For the slow release effect, don't crush and take whole. I presume you crush as that is easier for your son - funnily enough my son couldn't swallow them when I tried to crush into pieces, he finds it easier to swallow whole with a glass of water. 

I'd also make bedtime 8-9pm, but understand that doesn't really work for you.

i find my son's sleep issues the hardest thing to deal with.

Hi Jo, 

   My daughter is 8 yrs old and has autism and learning difficulties too, she too has  difficulty sleeping and gets melatonin although we have been able to reduce it she is better at sleeping now, but she used to be up in the night and not sleeping till 1am sometimes it was hard going.

The big thing that really helped my daughter to sleep more was her trampoline! i know it sounds a bit odd but we bought her (an outdoor) trampoline about a year and a half ago, and most days after school she can be bouncing away for hours and it really tires her out and I think she loves the rhythm of jumping as well as the exercise! Maybe not the best for the weather we are having just now but if it's not wet out, they can be wrapped up, worth a try maybe.

my daughter has a blackout blind and a thick curtain and I think it does help , she also has a lantern mobile same idea as lava lamps, she also has fairy lights that she likes to look out it's quite a relaxing atmosphere. 

I rarely put my daughter to bed before 8.30 and she is not sleeping until about 10 ( I have older children that are up anyway, I understand it's hard if your husband is up so early and you are working long shifts. I hope some of this helps but I have too say I would put him to bed later but i understand you need a bit of time to yourself.

good luck

susie.

Have you thought about trying a bed canopy to make him feel like he's in a smaller space if the room size is an issue?  Something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IKEA-Kids-Childrens-Bed-Canopy-Tent-Green-Like-Sky-with-Stars-NEW-/251324842948?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Bedroom_Bedding_PP&hash=item3a8420c3c4

He might also like something like a lava lamp/bubble lamp to hold his concentration until he gets sleepy again?

Some autistic children like white noise, so you could play a white noise CD on repeat or something?  Or soft whale music?

A lot of his waking could be anxiety.  I have heard that over longer-term people can become resistant to melatonin and so need more and more, and you are right, there has to be a limit, it can't just be increased non-stop.

If there is any way to reduce anxiety over the size of his room or anything else, that will help his sleep a lot.

This book might help him: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Huge-Bag-of-Worries-by-Virginia-Ironside-Big-book-2011-/360819757066?pt=Pre_School_Picture_Books&hash=item540288900a

There might be some useful information in this book:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Managing-Anxiety-in-People-With-Autism-A-Treatment-Guide-for-Parents-Teachers-/161186441396?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item258775e8b4

This emotions ring might help him: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUTISM-SPECIAL-NEEDS-ASPERGERS-EMOTIONS-PECS-RING-/120653433188?pt=UK_Toys_Creative_Educational_RL&hash=item1c17814964

and this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOME-SYMBOL-PACK-great-introduction-in-to-pecs-helps-lower-anxiety-levels-/121246610841?pt=UK_Toys_Creative_Educational_RL&var=&hash=item1c3adc7599

Thanks for your reply.

Yes your right, sorry I know its not a drug as such as its naturally occuring, However it can cause seizures as well as other side effects if the dose is too high for that child, which I guess is why I'm anxious.

Yes they are both types of melatonin your right, the tablet is slow release the other fast release liquid, 7 months ago he was just on liquid but as he was waking up more this was changed gradually to part tablets as it was thought the liquid would induce sleep and the tablet would keep him asleep longer.

The tablet is hard  to get in as he has only just started to chew and tolerate lumps so panics if he finds the tablet pieces and they are too large etc.

So instead of 5 mls and 2 ml if he wakes, he has3mls liquid and 2 to 4 mg tablets, usually just one 2mg tablet, so 5mg in total, we do not re give if he wakes as makes no difference.

We thought about the noise and 3 months ago got triple glazing in his room, we also got a thicker curtains in case the street light was disturbing him, we  have a mattress on floor as he would throw himself out bed and therapist told us to get this as he needs to feel he can get out if he needs and for safety etc,  however this is a bit of a nightmare in itself as obviously wants to get out all the time. I also finds he will do lots of self stimulating behaviour like bouncing which gets him over excited again.

The one mistake I know we have made is 1.5 years ago, long before his got diagnosed, we gave him bigger room, which I have regretted ever since as it freaked him out for months, we have finally got him back in his bed but of course he wakes so much he comes into us non stop, doesn't matter how long you stay in his room or put him back he comesback to our room.

I often think about changing room back but thenI think I will unsettle him again. He has never been bothered by having a dirty nappy or one full of urine, he doesmt appear to recognise at all when he does either so I don't think that would concern him.

I just feel everything I do at the moment doesn't make a difference, I did recently change his bedtime from 7pm to 7.30pm, so he is usually asleep by 745pm, I recognise that this may sound selfish but if I push it back later I never get any time before I go to bed, my partner is up at 4am for work and I do nights and 13 hour shifts so its a rare couple of hours to ourself as he wakes from 10pm.:-(

Thanks for your advice

I'm a bit confused, Circadin is melatonin, so it sounds as if he is having 2 separate doses of it?  That's overall quite a high dose of melatonin for a child.  Melatonin is not a drug, it's something the body makes naturally but in autism either it doesn't make enough or the body doesn't process it the right way.  There would a limit on how much melatonin he could have.

I would put his sleep time to half an hour to an hour later than it currently is, he may be one of those children who need less sleep.  Have you checked that there is no noise waking him up?  Autistic children can have incredibly sensitive hearing and the smallest noise can awaken them (even something like a creaking stair) and have you ensured he's not had any big drinks close to bedtime as needing the toilet could be waking him?  Even though he's in nappies the sensation could be disturbing him if he has tactile sensitivity.