Sleeping problems

[Guest guest]

Melony,

I'm sure Kelley will have some good suggestions (she's kind of an expert

on the sleep thing), but I'll tell you how we solved my daughter's sleep

problems. She has had problems falling asleep since her OCD hit her at age 4.

She

routinely took 2-3 hours to fall asleep, and had constant nightmares, and

sleep-walked as well. She's now 11 and actually enjoys going to bed!! We had

years

of struggle with her wanting to sleep in our room. She was always afraid to be

in her own room. We started by having her sleep closer to our bedroom door

for a few days, then just outside the door (which was open), then in the hall,

and eventually in her own room. Then I sat outside her door until she fell

asleep for a while. When she was comfortable with that, I just checked in on her

every 5 minutes for a couple of weeks. Eventually I could go in every 15

minutes, then every half hour, etc. I have always read to my kids at bedtime,

and I

still do. She has to be in her bed with the lights out as I read, and now she

actually falls asleep during the reading about half the time. When I finish

reading, if she's still awake, I just go in and say goodnight and she is fine.

This all took a lot of time (months) and patience, and she reverts to

sleep problems when her anxiety goes up (before school performances, or a trip,

etc.). We just just go back a few steps and start the process over. She hasn't

been in our room at night for well over a year now. (knock on wood!) Having

conquered her sleeping problems is one of her proudest achievements.

Good luck!

in NV