Just me... again...

[LizzieN]

Oh Laura,
what a complete load of bull (LOL I wrote a different word and it "fixed it for me") !  I am so sorry that you had to listen to that and once again it's knocked your confidence around...this is not what I was hoping to hear!!  I am sorry to say but my son also will lie down with his head on the ground if he is completely exhausted, he also does the hyper thing sometimes but children of this age DO express tiredness like this..I can't believe that she says they don't!!!

I am just wondering where this woman got her information 'cause tbh it all sounds like cr@p to me...sorry, I know I am ranting but I am so disappointed that they aren't helping you....

Look in the whole scheme of things as you said O may be getting enough for a "normal" child, although I think his sleep patterns are far from normal, but he has a medical condition which means that he needs to be well rested and he isn't....you aren't neurotic worring about that or thinking that things aren't right...YOU KNOW YOUR BABY, you are a wonderful mum and you deserve better than what you have gotten from these people!  I'm so so sorry sweetheart!

I just hope that Oliver will grow out of this, and you know I suspect that he will as his condition eases up...I can't understand why they all think these issues are unrelated...but I guess what I am trying to say is hang in there, I believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and yes for now your life is based around his sleep and I know it's driving you crazy but you are doing an amazing job and he is a credit to all the time and effort you are putting in...just keep doing what you are doing sweetheart...take breaks from it when you can and make sure you and DH get some time together to keep your relationship strong.

Sending much love and the biggest of big hugs and chocolate and coffee and more hugs while you have a cry xxxxx
xxLizzie

[LizzieN]

By the way, don't know if it's ok in little ones but have you come across chamomile FLOWER tea (not the leaf)...my hubby uses it 'cause he is a dreadful sleeper....don't know how you would go getting it into O and would want to be sure it was safe, but it really has helped Shaun!
xx

[Mom to M&M]

Chamomile is a good option and I know some others have had some level of success with melatonin?

[katie80]

Offering many hugs, Laura!  That really is frustrating!  I don't think you're one bit neurotic; you're trying to help your son! 

I think what Becky said is right; it's not really a routine issue, you've tried everything!  Just keep offering him the sleep and the longer night, so he has the chance to get it.  Oh, how I wish one of us had the answer!   

[momtonb&ab]

oh Laura, i am so angry on your behalf i dno't even think i know what to say right now.   in what universe are people not tired when they have to lie down even in a stimulating environment?? that is hogwash.   i am so so so so very sorry you aren't getting anyone to help you with this - it seems so obvious that mommy is the only one in tune with O these days. 

huge hugs to you - do NOT let them shake your resolve - you are a GREAT GREAT GREAT mommy and you aer doing all the right things for a little boy who is not getting enough sleep !  xo

[babybarr]

And so today just to confuse matters I woke him after 1hr 45min nap!!!  He never naps this long.  Consequently he's not settling to bed though - but I guess that's to be expected.  He did have a dreadful night.  I wasn't sure if to wake him from his nap but equally I didn't want a very late bedtime.

One thing I forgot to say was on one of the nights of him wearing the actiwatch he STTN!  Which surely proves he CAN do it.

Thank you to each and every one of you for your continued support and reassurance.  

[koe2moe]

hmmm just wondering...  have u heard of de-static wrist band?  If wearing something electrical helped with his sleep.  My dad used to have a factory producing electronics and there were employees who needed to be grounded or else they destroy the products.  My sis is one of these people, her mobile phones always magically die, actually most household electronics.  If you want, I can get one to you (i know of cheap child friendly version..) I only know it in japanese... hmmm  but then perhaps this is totally off. 

hmmm  hugs to you!! xx

[Tweakster]

Laura I don't even know what to say.  Is there any chance you can get referred to a different doc for 2nd opinion?  Even one you have to travel to if possible.  I know you are so so over this and so so tired but maybe a fresh perspective might help.  You are not neurotic, you have a mummy instinct for a reason, it's why women are mothers :-)  So I don't want you thinking that it's wrong.  It's not. 

Other than that, you are really doing everything.  It's not a routine issue, I think we all agree on that.  You are making the best routine you can from what you have to work with. 

Hugs and love from this side of the pond.

[momtonb&ab]

Laura

it just occured to me (because I suggested the same thing to wendy on her thread about Finn's ears) -  have you thought of taking your LO to the chiropractor?  it wouldn't hurt him but it might help him - our chiro wrote a fantastic book about how a simple adjustment can get the system in order and how one little guy who couldn't sleep or eat for 10 months and was dependant on medication to do both was able to give up all meds, eat and sleep normally after 4 adjustments!!!   i know it is a long shot, but what with all the terrible support your docs are giving you, maybe this would be an alternative!

if you want, i would be glad to send you the book from my chiro if it would help you decide!

[babybarr]

And today he napped 1hr 40mins... 2 long naps in 2 days - very odd behaviour   I don't know what to do about bedtime as normally he's in bed for 6.30pm (ish) last night I put him down just beofre 7pm and it was pracically 7.30pm before he fell asleep.  I think his nap was a bit earlier today so maybe I'll aim for 7pm again - what do you think?

I worry about going too late as then it kinda defeats the point of him having a longer nap and then still having NWs and becoming more common EWs!! 

Cherie, he saw an osteopath when he was very little who couldn't really find anything amiss - I don't really know how a chiropractor would differ AND DS is so phobic of medical people and strangers (ladies doing shoe measuring etc!) even touching him he FREAKS.  I'm not going to rule it out though.

[momtonb&ab]

the chiropractor is different than the osteopath in the way they approach whole body health.   but i hear you on the freaking out bit - if it is traumatic for him it might be difficult.  but i would suggest seeing if you can find a chiropractic clinic that specializes in kids - they are totally the best at adapting to that and in a lot of ways know how to help kids get past the fear of them. 

again, might be a waste of time in the long run, but would be worth a shot if it would give you both some relief. 

huge hugs to you. 

[Tweakster]

I don't think anything is a waste of time if you haven't tried it before.  We may try it for Finn, I'm going to look into it.

Just keep it in mind Laura :-)

[Mom to M&M]

I haven't done it myself but have also heard GREAT things about paed chiro work for everything from sleep issues to sinus problems and more.

[LizzieN]

I have also heard a similar story about a friend of a friends baby who could not sleep and the chiro realigned his little body...he apparently slept for 13 hours straight...poor little thing!!

Sweetie if we get good naps our bed time is 7:30pm....I would probably go for say 7:15pm so that he has a little time to fall asleep but not too much to get crabby with being in bed iyswim?  But that's just us and we don't have to deal with too many EWs xx

[gavinsmum1]

Laura, I'm just reading along here as I know you've given me wonderful advice in the past and I just wanted to see how things are going on  your side of the ocean.  It looks like this has all been very exhausting, but you are a fabulous mom with great persistence~ keep trying to get after the professionals to help you find a solution and hang in there. 
I noticed that talk had turned to chiropractic care.  If you can find a good pediatric chiro, then I would absolutely recommend it.  We've taken both our boys from birth and it has done wonders to help improve their fussiness, naps, ear infections, etc.  I'm another vote for giving that a try.
I hope that another solution comes your way.  I'm crossing my fingers for you and hoping that it comes speedily!