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Sleep Settling Issue - Now I am desperate. What else can I try?

PieceofPie

Hi,

I know there is another thread on sleep issues at the moment, but didn't want to hijack the thread where someone else is asking for advice. I am however seriously desperate for advice on anything else I can try to help my son sleep.

My son is now 2yrs11 months and it takes him up to 3 hours to settle to sleep now. He is OBVIOUSLY tired, rubbing his eyes, yawning, etc., but seems unable to settle/switch off. He is suffering from this - he gets upset and frustrated and the days it takes him longest to settle, the next days are the worst in terms of behaviours and sensory issues. We have tried everything I can think of in terms of changes to the room/lighting/bedding/temperature/bedtime routine (obviously all done carefully and gradually to avoid confusion or distress)... I have attended seminars on sleep problems and found I have tried all the 'usual' stuff. The only thing we haven't tried in Melatonin and I want to be happy that a) we have tried all reasonable other options before we consider the medication, and b) that I have researched the supplements properly.

I have 2 questions.

1) What else can we try to help him - as it is causing him distress to struggle to sleep so much when he is tired I can't just 'leave it' as it is.

2) What reliable sources can I look at to research the use of Melatonin in young children? I don't want to 'medicate' my son if I can avoid it, but I also think we need to consider the benefits versus any downsides. I don't want to read any old quack's view, or any knee-jerk reactions, but rather a measured scientific/medical view.

I would be grateful for any views.

PoP

Parents

  • Our son has always struggled to stay still and calm enough to go to sleep. Recently we've changed our routine so we do everything in a different room. So we get into pyjamas, brush teeth, read/listen to stories in another room. We also do some stretching exercises which help to calm by staying in position for a few seconds and repeating. This can settle the breathing down. Sometimes I may play relaxing piano music in the background.

    Once settled, it's toilet then straight into bed with lights out. The idea is that bed is for sleeping - you need to train your mind that bed is only for sleeping and not for all the other bedtime routine stuff which can be quite energetic and (sometimes) fraught!

    We ask him to try to rest calmly, breath deeply, feel his eyes get heavy etc. and leave him for 10mins or so. If he's struggling we will go back in and breath with him for a time to help him out.

    He's aware that this is something he struggles with, but rather than blame or get angry with him, we're trying to give him some tools to make sleep easier. So far it's working better than we could have dreamt!

    Hope this helps!

Reply

  • Our son has always struggled to stay still and calm enough to go to sleep. Recently we've changed our routine so we do everything in a different room. So we get into pyjamas, brush teeth, read/listen to stories in another room. We also do some stretching exercises which help to calm by staying in position for a few seconds and repeating. This can settle the breathing down. Sometimes I may play relaxing piano music in the background.

    Once settled, it's toilet then straight into bed with lights out. The idea is that bed is for sleeping - you need to train your mind that bed is only for sleeping and not for all the other bedtime routine stuff which can be quite energetic and (sometimes) fraught!

    We ask him to try to rest calmly, breath deeply, feel his eyes get heavy etc. and leave him for 10mins or so. If he's struggling we will go back in and breath with him for a time to help him out.

    He's aware that this is something he struggles with, but rather than blame or get angry with him, we're trying to give him some tools to make sleep easier. So far it's working better than we could have dreamt!

    Hope this helps!

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