sleep issues have come back with vengence

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I have been off the list for a few months but got back on to ask for

help. My son, Bryce, age 9, has had the typical sleep issues over the

years but they have been largely under control since he started

school in Kindergarten. Under control meants that about once or twice

a month he would wake up at about 3:00 and not be able to go back to

sleep. It killed us but didn't seem to bother him too badly so we

were pleased with this progress. But in August of this year, he

started doing the 3 am thing 4 or 5 nights a week all of a sudden.

This lasted for a month and we seemed to get him back in the groove

for a few weeks. He had a surgery during that time which helped the

switch. Now he is back to waking up wired often. He used to get just

1/2 mg of Melatonin a day before this new development. During Aug.

and Sept, we upped it to 1 mg and now we are on 1 and a 1/2. Two

nights, I tried 2 mg and he slept wonderfully but I had to wake him

up at 9:00. So, I backed back down and this morning he has been up

since 2 am. Has anyone else seen their child's sleep get so much

worse all of a sudden? Any suggestions. Bryce had a rough week of

school after the first bout of sleeplessness. I know it dteriorates

his already poorly functioning neurological system. Thanks for any

help.

Deedee, mom to Bryce and Blake, wife to Jeff

[Guest guest]

Hi DeeDee,

If he is going to sleep on his own, but waking up at 2 or 3, give him

the melatonin when he wakes up, and not when he goes to sleep.

Tim

S. Hartshorne, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI 48859

phone

fax

tim.hartshorne@...

[Guest guest]

Deedee

I think you responded when I posted about a few weeks ago. This was

her for most of the summer up till about a week ago. She has suddenly had 7

decent nights out of 10. For her recently it was the other way round. Last

night she woke up at 1.00am and we suspect did not go back to sleep.

is waiting to see a specialist but since we are in the UK these things take

time. There is no obvious reason why she switched from her 1-2 nights a week

partying to 5 and then back again..... and yes it is killing on the sleep

front, more for Flo than me because I sleep heavily.

Tim, good idea to suggest ttake the melatonin when Bryce wakes up rather

than earlier. For us that would be the logical way with Jess since she has

no trouble going to sleep (most of the time!).

Simon

[Guest guest]

I have the very same problem with Tag. He goes to bed around 9 and is up at 2 or

3. It's a huge problem because he makes all kinds of noise and wakes up the

entire house. He started doing this about 2 months ago, off and on, now it's

pretty much every night. The doctor prescribed him trazadone and melatonin but

they don't help. I am very interested to hear what help you get from everyone

else.

Abbey mother to Tag(CHARGE)Baylor, Payton, Ryder

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[Guest guest]

When we've given the Melatonin after she's gone to sleep but then

wakes, it simply has not worked. Granted, Tim, we gave it to her prior to

bed; perhaps it's the extra dose once she is roused that doesn't do the

job. The combination of Trazedone and Melatonin has been grand most

nights --- though there are the horrid nights when she won't take a

bloom'n thing. Martha

[Guest guest]

DeeDee,

My daughter is 11 and has had sleep issues for a long time. She was on

melatonin and clonidine. It seemed to stop working so now she is on 3 mg of

melatonin (helps keep her asleep) and 50 mg of trazodone (helps her get to

sleep). It takes about 1/2 hour to kick in and she is out for the night. We

haven't had many middle of the night wakeups like we used to. If she doesn't

take

them she gets tired but just can't wind down her mind and get to sleep.