Sleep, what's that?

[babybarr]

Had a call from the nursery nurse today the sleep clinic wants nothing else to do with him.  They say cos he's within normal limits that there's nothing else they can do.  They won't medicate him and his paed said the same.  So I guess this is it until one day perhaps O decides otherwise.

Karen I am going to order some of those calms things for kids - couldn't when you suggested a while back cos he was under 2 - did you find they helped keep your LOs asleep?

I think I may have to try stopping the soya milk and giving an alternative *just* to rule that out.  He is having some dairy but the last time I put him almost totally on dairy he had bad diarrhea but I need to try again in case it was actually had a bug.

I perhaps need to try the no nap again - but he's ill atm so that'll have to wait.

I just want to say a big thnak you to each and every single one of you that have come up with suggestions / thoughts and advice to help or even just offered support when you can't think of anything else to add.  I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it

[Jiinx]

think I may have to try stopping the soya milk and giving an alternative *just* to rule that out.

Laura, so weird. I was giving Z a lot of soy milk last week and the week before...and then the whole EW/bad naps happened. I stopped and so has her EW...(well she would scream at 9 - 9.5 hours into her sleep). I'm terrified to try soy milk but what a coincidence. Just thought I'd offer my musings

Good luck sweetie. I'm sorry they're not seeing your son anymore. What's their definition of normal? Maybe an invitation to your place at night to see how your lo sleeps would have them reconsider their "normal limits"!

[Mom to M&M]

Laura - we were giving my DD the kids calm/magnesium supplement for chronic constipation. Didn't help that but I did "think" it seemed to help with some growing pains. But she's always been a good sleeper (albeit an early riser until very recently). I have a friend though who has used it with her poor sleeping/ADHD son for a while now and swears it both helps him sleep more soundly AND focus better during the day. Worth a try I guess?

Also, MANY kids who are dairy intolerant are soy intolerant too. At least 50% from what I've heard. Can you try rice milk instead? You can always fortify with coconut milk for added fat.

[Jiinx]

okay I cannot find coconut milk or coconut yogurt ANYwhere...please tell me I don't have to order this frm a website somewhere...

Karen..oh, wise one..where do you get yours? .....or do you make your own

[Mom to M&M]

I buy coconut milk at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, even the "normal" grocery store - near the Asian foods/soy sauce, etc. I'd suggest adding 1-2 ounces coconut milk to every 6-7 ounces rice milk...

[Jiinx]

thank you

[koe2moe]

hey Laura, I've lost track somehow.  Has the 2nd cast come off yet?  O is ill now?  

I checked on the labels of those sleep melatonin tablets.  But it says it's time released that's how it can help sleeping through.  I think the magnesium supplements are worth a try.  Can you check with the health visitor about the same dosage for O?  I tried them myself but I felt groggy but perhaps i needed a tweak in the dosage but I gave up altogether because of all the various illnesses I was having.  I might try again myself. 

[babybarr]

Don't worry about losing track - I lost the plot a long time ago - it doesn't help cos I have the other thread on the couch about his leg.  He had the other cast off 3.5weeks ago.  He's now running a temp with a throat infection - and now possibly a UTI too   He is still not walking properly either - so that's an ongoing saga

They won't let him have melotonin here without dr approval and my paed won't given him any.  We tired the magnesium before without success.

I def think trying without soy is worth a shot - ideally I'd like him to be on dairy so I'm going to try that option again first.  If it doesn't work then I'll give the rice / coconut milk a shot.  He already has yoghurt, butter, cheese and other hidden dairy.

[koe2moe]

Laura, what's your gut feeling on melatonin.  You surely can buy them over the counter, right?  Especially low dosage (or split the pill). 

[Mom to M&M]

Laura, TBH, even before the magnesium or while you wait for it to come, I might try a STRICT two week dairy and soy free trial to see if that helps matters at all - have you ever done that?

[Tweakster]

It's worth a shot, we did a dairy trial and it wasn't our issue but maybe it's yours...

Things have not improved for us with a 2-week chiropractor trial but that's not to say again that it won't work for O.  But my health insurance at work covers it...otherwise it would be quite expensive at more than $30 per visit! 

I personally use magnesium and have not found it helpful for my sleep.  My sleep is getting worse lately too, I chalk it up to stress.  So I am also thinking of trying melatonin.  I don't really want to give Finn something like that (non-prescription) that I have not tried myself. 

I think you can get melatonin at a health store in the UK rather than at the chemist.  Maybe?

But then again, he has a medical condition so you want to be wary about that when giving him anything that is not prescribed or monitored by a doc.

Sarah, I found coconut milk at No Frills...yeah check the 'international' foods areas.  The one we bought was horrid and awful (according to Tom's mum) - she likes to drink it from the can though.  Apparently it's not the same as cracking open the actual fruit lol

[Jiinx]

Laura - so sorry that O has been ill ..gawsh, he sounds like he's been through a lothanks for the help in finding Coconut milk. I use the powder in my cooking, but for some reason did not think I can use the same for Z? Thought it was icky...will try to find some good quality stuff.

the more I mull over what Z went through in the last two weeks, the more I think soy was the culprit. I was so happy that she was getting her fat from somewhere.

She's still teething....her nights have improved tremendously..her naps, meh..she still wakes up sobbing from them..but they sometimes get to 2 hours...

I've got so much soy milk in the fridge bc it was on sale Anyone want a carton?

[Mom to M&M]

Wendy, the only reason I had suggested dairy free to you was because of Finn's constant runny nose. Not his sleep issues. Despite him being an EW, he doesn't generally have bad or frequent NWs. The kiddos I've seen with food allergies often get NWs as one of the symptoms, though not always.

But to really know, Laura, you'd really need to try totally soy and dairy free for at least two weeks.

Sarah, I'd think any good grocery store would have canned coconut milk with the Asian foods. You can open a can, pour it into a tupperware or pitcher and keep in fridge, shaking and pouring a few ounces into a bottle or cup as needed. BTW - DS is totally waking from naps (and most mornings) sobbing too. HATE teeth!

[babybarr]

He has been completely dairy free since 3wks old until about 4mths ago - and having him on a bit of dairy made no difference.  He still has soya milk in the morning before bed and on his cereal - that's why I wonder about going soya free, but perhaps leave the dairy that we have already in there as it hasn't made a difference either way   He would drink cow's milk so perhaps I just make the switch and see what happens?  (scared!)

Karen are the Calms things magnesium then? We've tried just magnesium with no change.

Melatonin - I wouldn't feel comfortable giving him this with his underlying medical condition esp. as Claire told me she looked into it and you shouldn't have it if you have an autoimmune disorder.

Sarah - he has been through A LOT but look at him ..... he's the happiest boy in the world!  Even these last 2 days with temps over 39c he's been plodding on laughin and joking.  This I am grateful for - it'd be a billion times worse if he was grouchy.

No UTI though so that's good.

[babybarr]

I meant to also say I'm starting to wonder if he's falling asleep in the day but with his eyes open....  He'll lay / sit staring into space and it takes a while for him to "come to" or please tell me otherwise if this is normal toddler behaviour