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My 2-Year-Old Has Trouble Falling And Staying Asleep After Having Tonsils Removed

by Meagan Ober
(Pineville)

I'm desperate and will accept any and all advice at this point. In the past, before my son's tonsils were removed, if my son woke during the night and stayed awake, especially more than one night in a row, we took him to the doctor. Sure enough, every time his sleeplessness had been caused by severe ear infections or tonsillitis.


After having his tonsils removed and tubes replaced (he previously had tubes but one fell out so both were replaced), my once easy bed time baby has turned into anything but easy.

I've refused naps to have him act out because of being tired. I've given early naps trying to return to a known routine that's worked for us.

I don't know how he's doing it and not passing out from exhaustion but he'll go 3 or 4 days in a row taking only enough sleep to barely qualify a nap and be up for hours.

Then one night he sleeps all the way because he's so tired. I've tried replicating the events from the day he slept with no luck. I've tried low dose of melatonin and Benadryl. We have wasted so much gas driving around trying to get him to sleep, but he just sings and is OK being awake.

I took him to the ENT doctor today and explained he had to be sick, because it's the only reason I can think of that would make him stay awake night after night, but he's healthy. Tomorrow we are going to his GP, she'll listen more to me than the overworked ENT.

I want to know how other parents have kept their sanity because I'm on the verge of losing it. I also have a 6-year-old daughter that is suffering from lack is attention. Please anything, advice, treatment, something to ask the doctor about?

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