Sleeping worse than normal

My daughter isn't sleeping well and I need ideas on what to do. She has always struggles sleeping but recently, the past few months have been horrible for her. She's struggled getting to sleep, then staying asleep and wakes up early. She used to sleep all the time as a baby and toddler but now she's older sleeping is like a chore, she hates it. 

We've tried everything, making the room dark, keeping it quite, keeping a routine, keeping the room cool, putting her on medication and having her take melatonin but there was no improvement, I'd anything it's getting worse. 

Last night was a bad night, but it is her first day back to school which is why, she was excited and nervous. She was being very noisy so I went in her room at 10:30 to tell her to go to sleep, then about 11 it was quiet so I belive she fell asleep. She woke up in the night and was up for hours then went back to sleep and kept waiting up. Then she stayed up from 6 this morning. We've noticed that she will wake up at 1 then fall back asleep at 4am. It's a very common thing and will happen most nights. She also put 3 weighted blankets on herself last night to help her get to sleep. What can I do now to make sleeping easier. We've tried everything we can. 

Parents
  • That sounds exhausting for your family.
    I am actually sleeping worse than normal too. My theory is the christmas break, that shook up the routine, and also days are  getting longer. Is she very sensitive to the seasons, and what is going on around her? So - as you said, she was excited and nervous, my son hates bed time too and was very nervous about going back to school. We try positive reinforcement. She didn't come to wake you up at 1 in the morning? Have you talked to her about it, maybe praising her for trying to be nice to not wake you? Not that you would want that possibly.
    Is she having night mares?
    I would hate bedtime too then.
    Our sweet autistic children will not come right out and say what is bothering them, we have to sherlock it out.
    Maybe she doesn't want to sleep away from you, maybe she still needs you close by at night. Our son just moved to his own bed at age 7, but he doesn't sleep there every night. He'll come into our bed still. He's always welcome here.
    I hope this helped in any way.

Reply
  • That sounds exhausting for your family.
    I am actually sleeping worse than normal too. My theory is the christmas break, that shook up the routine, and also days are  getting longer. Is she very sensitive to the seasons, and what is going on around her? So - as you said, she was excited and nervous, my son hates bed time too and was very nervous about going back to school. We try positive reinforcement. She didn't come to wake you up at 1 in the morning? Have you talked to her about it, maybe praising her for trying to be nice to not wake you? Not that you would want that possibly.
    Is she having night mares?
    I would hate bedtime too then.
    Our sweet autistic children will not come right out and say what is bothering them, we have to sherlock it out.
    Maybe she doesn't want to sleep away from you, maybe she still needs you close by at night. Our son just moved to his own bed at age 7, but he doesn't sleep there every night. He'll come into our bed still. He's always welcome here.
    I hope this helped in any way.

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