Re: not sleeping through the night (and sensory needs)

July 25, 2007

I haven't been following this thread, but I thought I'd mention some things I've

observed with my son, in case any of it gives anyone insight into their own

child.

My son doesn't sleep well on an empty stomach. Infants tend to wake up when

hungry and sleep when full. My son, who is almost 14, never completely outgrew

this tendency. On rare occasions when we eat supper early (too early to go to

sleep), he will stay up really late until I realize that he is not going to

sleep until he eats. As soon as his tummy is full, he's off to bed. When we eat

at our usual late hour, he is generally ready to sleep right after dinner.

In the morning, he is always ravenous! If he wakes up too early, I can get him

to go back to sleep for a few more hours by feeding him breakfast first.

I'm sure this is some sort of sensory dysfunction issue. Perhaps the same is

true of other kids. The specific sensory need may be different, but the

principle could be the same. If the sensory need can be identified and a plan

made for meeting that need, that might go along way toward solving sleep

problems. (Think about how many babies go to sleep best if rocked and how some

babies need not only be fed but also rocked to get them back to sleep.) Perhaps

the strategy could be the same: completely fulfill the sensory need shortly

before bed and provide the child the means to fulfill the sensory need

themselves if they wake up before everyone else.

One other observation: although we react in opposite ways when it comes to

eating/sleeping (food wakes me up), my son and I both sleep best if we are fully

hydrated. To be fully hydrated at night but not have your sleep disrupted by the

need to run to the bathroom, you need to drink a lot earlier in the day so you

are not dehydrated at bed time. If I wake up or toss and turn in the early

morning, getting up for a glass of water helps me get back to a sound sleep.

Dehydration has a profound effect on sensory functioning, so hydration is a very

basic need that has to be met for proper functioning. This is probably the first

issue anyone should look at if they or their child is having trouble with sleep.

Any sensory need that a particular person requires for good sleep can be

intensified by dehydration and calmed by hydration. (Of course this also applies

to sensory functioning during the rest of the day.)

Janice

July 25, 2007

I have to agree with the sensory modulation disorders (sensory

overresponsivity, sensory underresponsitivity, sensory seeking or

craving.

Sensory processing disorders, sensory discrimination disorder

(auditory, proprioception, vestibular/Moving, visual, taste/smell), my

son experienced and has been dx with SPD. When on

overload/overstimulated forget about sleep, definitely poor sleep

patterns, short naps, needs to be rocked, cannot go back to sleep by

himself.

In my son's case with food allergies/intolerance this interfered too.

Removal of the dairy helped in his case.

Any sleep aide or supplement for him are no no's, this would cause

some erections.

Meaning Melatonin or the prescribed meds Trazadone, so caution here

for the males, read the fine prints on the side effects for any sleep

aides.

Any type of proprioceptive or vestibular activities on a daily basis

implemented has been helping my son along with being soaked in Epsom

Salt bath, then given a joint compressions & deep massages, white

noise, & dark.

Sensory integration was a key for my son which helped me to pinpoint

the problem areas.

Irma,19,DS/ASD

>

> I haven't been following this thread, but I thought I'd mention some

things I've observed with my son, in case any of it gives anyone

insight into their own child.

>

> My son doesn't sleep well on an empty stomach. Infants tend to wake

up when hungry and sleep when full. My son, who is almost 14, never

completely outgrew this tendency. On rare occasions when we eat supper

early (too early to go to sleep), he will stay up really late until I

realize that he is not going to sleep until he eats. As soon as his

tummy is full, he's off to bed. When we eat at our usual late hour, he

is generally ready to sleep right after dinner.

>

> In the morning, he is always ravenous! If he wakes up too early, I

can get him to go back to sleep for a few more hours by feeding him

breakfast first.

>

> I'm sure this is some sort of sensory dysfunction issue. Perhaps the

same is true of other kids. The specific sensory need may be

different, but the principle could be the same. If the sensory need

can be identified and a plan made for meeting that need, that might go

along way toward solving sleep problems. (Think about how many babies

go to sleep best if rocked and how some babies need not only be fed

but also rocked to get them back to sleep.) Perhaps the strategy could

be the same: completely fulfill the sensory need shortly before bed

and provide the child the means to fulfill the sensory need themselves

if they wake up before everyone else.

>

> One other observation: although we react in opposite ways when it

comes to eating/sleeping (food wakes me up), my son and I both sleep

best if we are fully hydrated. To be fully hydrated at night but not

have your sleep disrupted by the need to run to the bathroom, you need

to drink a lot earlier in the day so you are not dehydrated at bed

time. If I wake up or toss and turn in the early morning, getting up

for a glass of water helps me get back to a sound sleep. Dehydration

has a profound effect on sensory functioning, so hydration is a very

basic need that has to be met for proper functioning. This is probably

the first issue anyone should look at if they or their child is having

trouble with sleep. Any sensory need that a particular person requires

for good sleep can be intensified by dehydration and calmed by

hydration. (Of course this also applies to sensory functioning during

the rest of the day.)

>

> Janice

>

July 25, 2007

what is white noise? quietness? and vestibular activities, please

explain more about that. Is that like swinging or rocking? I may be

overstimulating my daughter, i keep her entertained until bedtime hoping

it will help with sleep.

mum592001 wrote:

>

> I have to agree with the sensory modulation disorders (sensory

> overresponsivity, sensory underresponsitivity, sensory seeking or

> craving.

> Sensory processing disorders, sensory discrimination disorder

> (auditory, proprioception, vestibular/Moving, visual, taste/smell), my

> son experienced and has been dx with SPD. When on

> overload/overstimulated forget about sleep, definitely poor sleep

> patterns, short naps, needs to be rocked, cannot go back to sleep by

> himself.

> In my son's case with food allergies/intolerance this interfered too.

> Removal of the dairy helped in his case.

> Any sleep aide or supplement for him are no no's, this would cause

> some erections.

> Meaning Melatonin or the prescribed meds Trazadone, so caution here

> for the males, read the fine prints on the side effects for any sleep

> aides.

> Any type of proprioceptive or vestibular activities on a daily basis

> implemented has been helping my son along with being soaked in Epsom

> Salt bath, then given a joint compressions & deep massages, white

> noise, & dark.

> Sensory integration was a key for my son which helped me to pinpoint

> the problem areas.

>

> Irma,19,DS/ASD

>

> >

> > I haven't been following this thread, but I thought I'd mention some

> things I've observed with my son, in case any of it gives anyone

> insight into their own child.

> >

> > My son doesn't sleep well on an empty stomach. Infants tend to wake

> up when hungry and sleep when full. My son, who is almost 14, never

> completely outgrew this tendency. On rare occasions when we eat supper

> early (too early to go to sleep), he will stay up really late until I

> realize that he is not going to sleep until he eats. As soon as his

> tummy is full, he's off to bed. When we eat at our usual late hour, he

> is generally ready to sleep right after dinner.

> >

> > In the morning, he is always ravenous! If he wakes up too early, I

> can get him to go back to sleep for a few more hours by feeding him

> breakfast first.

> >

> > I'm sure this is some sort of sensory dysfunction issue. Perhaps the

> same is true of other kids. The specific sensory need may be

> different, but the principle could be the same. If the sensory need

> can be identified and a plan made for meeting that need, that might go

> along way toward solving sleep problems. (Think about how many babies

> go to sleep best if rocked and how some babies need not only be fed

> but also rocked to get them back to sleep.) Perhaps the strategy could

> be the same: completely fulfill the sensory need shortly before bed

> and provide the child the means to fulfill the sensory need themselves

> if they wake up before everyone else.

> >

> > One other observation: although we react in opposite ways when it

> comes to eating/sleeping (food wakes me up), my son and I both sleep

> best if we are fully hydrated. To be fully hydrated at night but not

> have your sleep disrupted by the need to run to the bathroom, you need

> to drink a lot earlier in the day so you are not dehydrated at bed

> time. If I wake up or toss and turn in the early morning, getting up

> for a glass of water helps me get back to a sound sleep. Dehydration

> has a profound effect on sensory functioning, so hydration is a very

> basic need that has to be met for proper functioning. This is probably

> the first issue anyone should look at if they or their child is having

> trouble with sleep. Any sensory need that a particular person requires

> for good sleep can be intensified by dehydration and calmed by

> hydration. (Of course this also applies to sensory functioning during

> the rest of the day.)

> >

> > Janice

> >

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.19/917 - Release Date: 7/25/2007

1:16 AM

>

July 25, 2007

white noise is something like the motor of a fan (Tori used to fall asleep in

her bounce (the ones they have at carnivals) because the sound of the blower

soothed her. They also sell cds with rainfall, birds, etc.

Liz

Re: Re: not sleeping through the night (and sensory

needs)