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My Child Simply Will Not Sleep!!

by Amanda Legg
(Charleston, WV)

My son who just turned 4 was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. He refuses to sleep! It takes several hours for him to settle down enough to go to sleep, and then when falling asleep he never goes into a deep sleep and wakes every little bit.

I am lucky for him to sleep 5 hours total a night. He doesn't take a nap through the day. We have tried giving him melatonin and Clondine of which neither worked, even having the opposite effect on him.

We try to make sure he gets in plenty of exercise throughout the day, has time to relax throughout the day. We have cut out all dyes from his diet and limit his sugar intake. We also don't allow TV 60 minutes before bed, no stimulating activities 60 mins before bed, and we keep the same bedtime routine nightly.

This has been going on with him since turning one. He is so hyper throughout the day and moody, it makes it impossible to do anything with him. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments. Thanks so much in advance!!

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My Child Simply Will Not Sleep!!

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Jan 12, 2012
 Sleep Deprived NEW
by: Sleepless 3 year old

I don't have any advise, however I would like to know if your situation has changed. I have a 3 year old that is similar to this. She is happy in the morning, and as the day goes on she begins to be so cranky, and crazy she is making the whole house crazy. Me and my husband are so sleepy. She sleeps in my room most nights, because if I put her in her room she goes in my daughters room until she wakes her up. my 3 year old doesn't go to sleep until about 11-12 Am. Then my daughter sleeps 3-4 hours then she is up for an hour or 2 then she sleeps again for another 3 hours. I don't know what to do, she is sleep deprived, and so am I.
Jan 15, 2012
 same problem!! NEW
by: Anonymous

I too, don't have any answers, but my daughter is going through the same thing. My granddaughter, now 2 1/2 was always an excellent sleeper. She was sleeping through the night by 8 weeks and started on a good schedule of daily naps. However, about 2 months ago she began waking up in the middle of the night, playing and talking never has climbed out of her crib. She wakes for an hour or so and then goes back for 2-3 more. Also, she often will not nap during the day. This is beginning to effect her behavoir during the day, especially in the evening. My daughter and son-in-law are so tired. Added to their deprived sleep is a 3 month old, who thankfully has been sleeping through the night for a few weeks now. They are going to seek help through their pediatrician. Any suggestions other than that? What's worked for you?
Jan 19, 2012
 My son only sleeps 2-4 hours in a 24 hour period NEW
by: Anonymous

My son is 2.5 and around the time he turned 18months he just stopped sleeping he went from sleeping 10 hours every night to only sleeping 4 hours he can't take naps in the day but he does lay down to rest for about a hour he is very hyper he is running all day long it's like he will not stop going and the older he gets say ever 6 months his sleep will decreed by 30 mins so now he sleeps 2-3 hours a night he doesn't go to bed till bout 5 in the morning at gets up at 7 or 8 we have tried everything but nothing works if it supposed to make u sleep it wakes him up but things that normally would wake you up have no effect on him. I'm am searching for answers but it's a dead end everywhere but his little sleep doesn't seem to impact his life it's like that's all the sleep he needs

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