My 28 Month old still not sleeping - UPDATE

[Samuel's mum]

Sarah - I see what you are saying about rewards. Makes no sense when he isn't conscious of anything.

Funnily enough we had a really good night with Sam last night. He woke up yesterday at 5.30am and was still so so tired. Wouldn't go back to sleep. I know what you mean about them waking in a fog.  DH was going to the supermarket in the morning so I decided we were going to break this pattern. DH drove around on the way back until he was asleep. He slept from 10.30-12 - a very bizarre time. Then he went to bed at 6.45 - again VERY early for him. He did wake once but only briefly and slept until 8am. I'm hoping we've turned a corner. I agree overtiredness can become a cycle.

On the sling thing - I use it more than the norm for this website I'm guessing. When it is particularly useful is during the later afternoons and evenings. Josie's in it while Sam is having dinner, in the bath and during Sam's bedtime routine. She is sometimes awake and sometimes catnaps but it has completely removed the fussy time. Jayna is a big girl though so be careful about getting something supportive - I started when Josie was 6 pounds and she's gradually moved to 10 pounds. I didn't start when she was 10-11 pounds! I use the sling because I really feel Sam isn't 'missing out' KWIM? His life has changed very little during the day - Josie is an addition to the day: he loves to help with baths, nappies etc. But I still play with him as much as I did, read books as I did and bedtime is what it was (and there's no DH except at the weekends). I wasn't expecting it to be like this/ this easy and I put it down to the sling. Josie is using an EASY structure but currently does fall asleep 'herself' in the sling. She only cries if she's been out of the sling playing and she's overtired once I get to putting her in. Sometimes when she's asleep I put her down.
So that's my story but I know you are very committed to getting Jayna sleeping independently and establishing naps. You are more 'regular' than me but you may find slings useful sometimes. The one I've used most has been a fleece pouch called a 'peanut shell'. I have a long wrap - cuddly wrap - which I think will work more when she's heavier.

[crazycanuck]

ok so first off........i am not going to lock the door.......never would have - just coming from a place of frustration.....so no worries ladies

so DH slept on a mattress in Logans room last night.........he woke every 45-1hr even with DH in the room - whining half awake - at one point he told DH he wanted him to leave - said "daddy leave daddy leave" so he said i will leave but if you get out of bed i am gonna come back in the room - sure enough DH came back to bed and logan got up - so DH went back and stayed the night with him and just calmed him when he woke

re: the learned response and big bed transition.......Logan LOVES his bed - he always talks about it and says "i love my bed"!! and he has been there for almost 5 months so i think that would be a little to delayed - and with the learned response and OT stuff I totally agree its a cycle but I think myself that the amount of waking he is doing is beyond behaviour and habit and Overtiredness........spoke to a few people incl a dr and he said its excessive that OT does not last for weeks and weeks and doesn't start a cycle like this so lengthy.........

he doesn't seem to need reassurrance as when we talk with him he gets agitated like we are keeping him from trying to get to sleep - he gets upset with us - he clearly appears frustrated he can't sleep.....to make matters worse he has a fever now and logan myself and jayna all went to bed with stuffy noses and woke with them - likely due to getting run down..........
i think the grinding teeth is behaviour and a symptom of stress and anxiety and some of his acting out is stress and anxiety re: jayna - but the night waking like he is doing seems to me to be so much more than that....

after looking he has ALL the symptoms of food intolerances and allergies...........so we are going to take him for food intolerance and sensitiity testing - so have his live blood test done - hair analysis, and going to ask to go to a sleep clinic - we are also going to immediately cut out dairy.....

some of the things we have been experiencing with him over the past 2 yrs are
irritable bowel
nightwaking
infection after infection
unexplained rashes
skin condition called keratosis pilaris - common in people with allergies or asthma/excema

i think i am going to deal with a few of these things and then go north to stay with my mom because we just can't deal with the tiredness - DH is police officer and can't go to work the way he is but i can't do it on my own either.....

thanks so much for your responses etc., i am grateful......

sarah

[sandraorion]

Sarah,

I just briefly read the responses. I would strongly encourage you to take him to the sleep clinic. Logan's sleep issues are not new, just worse lately. When we had sleep issues with Adrian, I was advised to take him to the sleep clinic if he didn't sort himself out by age two. He too had tons of sinus and ear infections.

The sleep clinic should manage the case for you. They should observe him overnight and figure out what disturbs his sleep. Then they should send you the appropriate place to remove the underlaying problem (if it's allergies, tonsails etc..) or work with you if it is a training issue.

Many, many hugs to you. In the meantime, I'd definitely try having him in the same room in one way or the other.

[crazycanuck]

sandra

i think we are def gonna do that
i was reading about sleep apnea and logan has many of the symptoms for that - the above which but also
soaked in the morning
excessive thirst or always thirsty at night
difficult to wake from his sleep
restless sleep sleepwalking
difficult to get going after waking
mouth breathing
sleeping in odd positions
anyhow those are teh ones i can remember right now - perhaps we are dealing with sleep apnea and the allergies to boot and its just gotten worse over time to where we are now

here's hoping we figure out something

[binxyboo]

Huge hugs to you xx

[sophiems]

Sarah, I just saw this.  I have absolutely nothing to offer in wisdom but just wanted to send some hugs.  I hope your whole family will find some restfull nights soon.   

Sophie

[*Natasha*]

Unfortunately i have no advise either but i just wanted to send you some more HUGS