Help with sleeping issues special needs child?

Question

Help with sleeping issues special needs child?

Answer 1

I don't need more information, I know exactly what you mean.  Many children with 'special needs' have issues with poor sleeping, whether they simply cannot sleep, or whether their sleeping pattern is chaotic.

These problems are caused by neurological dysfunction, which means that basically the child's brain might not be producing sufficient quantities serotonin at the correct time to enable him to sleep.

What can you do about it?  Well, there are several things you can try..

(1). Try to place the child in the early morning sunlight.  This has a proven effect upon serotonin production and helps to set the brain's clock for sleeping and waking times.

(2).  Try to get him to eat foods which are rich in the amino acid called 'tryptophan' a few hours before sleep.  Tryptophan is converted to serotonin in the brain.

(3).  Ask your doctor for a prescription for 'Melatonin.'  This is synthesised to serotonin, which can aid sleep. - Many people successfully avert jet - lag by altering their sleep - wake cycle using melatonin.

(4).  Buy the book 'Cerebral palsy: A guide to understanding and helping your child.'  Which is available from http://www.snowdrop.cc  They are consultants in child development and the book has a specific section dedicated to sleeping difficulties in children with special needs.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Can you share more information?  Is the child sleeping too much, not enough, or not regularly?  Is the sleeping issue caused by the special need or is it just complicated by the special need?

My hyperactive son had difficulties going to sleep, would wander the house in the middle of the night, then be hard to get up in the morning if he ever did go to sleep.   We did several things to keep him and us safe. We moved our bedroom next to his, and put the other kids the furthest away.   Then we put bells on his door so we could hear it if he opened it at night. We put a lock on the firplace to keep him from trying to start fires there.  Knives were kept up high .  Cabinets were locked.  We tried to get him into a routine so he was in bed by about the same time each night.    He had to use the restroom before he went to bed and no late drinks. Then we read to him.  If he was still not asleep, we allowed him to listen to a book on tape ( now CD)  or relaxing music with the lights turned off.   NO TV or computer or other electronic games in the bedroom!

I found a website which focuses on sleep disorders in kids.  Good luck.

Later we found that he slept better after his tonsils were removed.

Answer 3

You really could do with putting a little more information into your question. What special needs does the child have, why are they not sleeping, are they on any other medication and perhaps what conditions are involved. At the moment the most common drug used for sleep disorders in children is melatonin. It is a naturally occurring substance in the body and helps the brain distinguish between day and night. It must be prescribed by a doctor in the UK but in the USA it is available over the counter. There are other drugs that are used to help children sleep and maintain their sleep but without knowing the child's problem it would be difficult to suggest the best course of action.

Answer 4

I had to cope with serious sleep problems and hyperactivity during the first six years of my (autistic) sons life. I was fortunate in having a friend who was an osteopath who had done some training on applying cranial osteopathy to children and young people with autism as a remedy for hyperactivity and sleep problems. It proved to be extremely effective and my son actively enjoyed the sessions.

(The advice given by psycho is also very good. )

Answer 5

I M  me with a diagnosis and I may be able to advise.

Answer 6

I know this is going to sound bad, but here it is anyway.

We had to reverse the lock on our son's bedroom door and lock him in at night.  I was worried about him getting out of the house and wandering away.  We don't have to do it anymore.  He is older now, and understands that he is not to leave the house without permission.

Answer 7

You need to give us more information.  But, if there are real issues you need to talk to your childs doctor not a bunch of yahoos on yahoo!