Need help getting my 8 yr old to sleep?

Question

My daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD, and is taking concerta for it. I now find its hard to get her to go to sleep, I've tried everything; wearing her out, extended bath time, reading to her, letting her read in bed, soft radio, nightlight, I dont know what else to do!! Please help!

Answer 1

Hello AM:

You're a patient, loving mom and deserve the best for trying to figure this out.  If you're doing all these things without result, you need to speak with your physician (the one who prescribed this), and see if there is a need to change the dose, the time it's given, or even replace it with something else.  Explain to your daughter that this reaction is not her fault, but a side-effect of the medicine she is taking. Involving her in the process of correcting this will help her be less fearful about taking this medicine. She also won't feel like she's a bad child, or the cause of your anxiety or fatigue. Reassure her that you'll work with her doc to find a way to fix the situation.

Doctors often don't know all the side effects of things they prescribe because each patient is different, and rely on the drug distributors to keep them informed. Do some homework of your own and find out if other children in her age group, size, weight and activity levels have experienced the same problem.

Explain to the doc that right now, these meds are "counter productive to her treatment and disruptive to her sleep patterns".  These clinical terms will make it clear that a change is necessary. Immediately. It will also restore some of your own private time after she goes to bed.  

Too often docs don't look at the big picture of drug therapy and we need to show them that one child with ADHD affects the whole household, not just the person ingesting the drug.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I would talk to the doctor or call a nurse line.  

Answer 3

actually, ADHD  could also be undiagnosed lyme disease. my brother had ADHD but we found out it was lyme. your child could either not be falling asleep because of the concerta, or many lyme patients cant fall asleep. if you would like more information go to lymepa.org and read "the basics"

Answer 4

I have the same problem with my son. He takes focalin. We switched to this med - he was taking adderall before and literatally layed in bed for hours before falling asleep. Maybe you should try switching medications. If not give it to her as early as possible.

Answer 5

Let her go to bed as late as she wants, then wake her up at a specific time early every morning. She will know she has to get up early, so she will go to sleep earlier. Also try giving her warm milk, back rubs, or maybe it's a light that bothers her. You might want to try having her wear a sleep mask.

Answer 6

Watch her diet. Cut out sugar and caffeine. This will improve over time. She needs to adjust to the medicine. Make sure the dosage is not too much for her. She should not be on anything higher than 18mg.

Answer 7

Start waking her earlier in the morning.  My 8 year old is in bed at 9:30 every night and has to get up at 6:00am.  Sounds to me as if your daughter is sleeping too much.

Answer 8

Well I remember that when my sister was little, she would NOT fall asleep! Here is what my parents did to solve that problem. They just let her scream and cry until she fell asleep in her crib. It was the only way. Anyways, it's probably just a stage, she will get through it. For the meantime though, I know that  it's probably hard.

Here's my advice:

Read her a really long story while she's laying on the couch or in bed it will knock her right out.

Put her in her room with the lights out (maybe with a nighlight for comfort) and tell her that she can't leave her bed.

Take her for a loooong quiet car drive until she falls asleep

I know for a lot of people eating a lot makes them really tired, you could try giving her a big meal

I hope this answer helps! I'm sorry! Get some sleep! :)

Answer 9

Gravol works good and isn't harmful its for nausea  but it'll knock them out in an hour

Answer 10

wut time does she sleep??

Answer 11

Bedtime shedule for summer and weekend

8:00=bath time

8:15=Out of Bath and Pj on

8:25=Light snack(no sweets) and tv time

8:50=Brush teeth

9:00=She reads by herself

9:15=Read to her

9:30=lights out