Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy For those with poor sleepers...

I also am dubious about making changes on the basis of a FitBit, but I do think that it warrants talking to her pediatrician about it, and possibly scheduling a sleep study.

oh lord my dd is a horrible sleeper. I've learned to lie to her pediatrician because he was very stern with us when i admitted to co-sleeping. Bad move!

but she isn't typical. it was one of the first signs for us that she was atypical. We tried CIO at the insistence of her ped, and it did not work even a little. she just stayed up all night.

the best thing for our family is to all sleep together. though we recently got a kitten that i am trying to train to sleep with dd, as i am hoping that the companionship will lead to her feeling safer

We did a sleep study a couple of years ago looking for possible REM Disturbance Disorder. It was the middle of winter and the heat wasn't working in the facility so they piled her under a TON of blankets. It was so heavy that she didn't move an inch all night. They thought I was crazy with my claims of all her sleep activity. Since that experience I have looked at weighted blankets but they are super expensive. I found a plan to make one but I don't sew... Still I know I have to try to do it.

Last night's FitBit report showed waking up twice and 22 times "restless". The night before awake once and "restless" 16 times. I'm thinking the weekly report must combine these numbers. No way did she really "wake up" 36 times in one night - right?

Still less than 9 hours actually asleep each night. Clearly something is up especially since this matches up with all the activity we have seen over the years. I think another sleep study is needed. DD is a good sized 11 year old - really the size of a small adult so I think the FitBit is likely a pretty good indicator even if not 100% accurate.

I have an update too. After major issues at school caused at least in part by exhaustion the doctor prescribed melatonin (only way you can get it here). He now goes to sleep much more happily. He still talks, giggles etc in his sleep but he grinds his teeth and throws himself round lesd.

Hey Puffin - would you be able to tell us your dosage and kiddo's weight? I am wracked with worry every time I give DS8 melatonin, because I never know if it's the right thing to do, and if it is - how much is the right amount. But really, sometimes it's the only way to break an awful downward spiral for DS. Anyway, you'd give a ton of comfort if you could share info about your script.

Of course I understand if you don't feel ok with that.

Thanks,
Sue

FWIW, my DD12 takes 2 mg most nights. She weighs almost exactly 100 lbs (45 kg). We started her on 1 mg, and it worked for a few months, then stopped working for her. 2 mg is generally still OK, a couple of years later. Her pediatrician says she can take up to 3 mg, and says that she is pretty conservative about dosage - many doctors are ok with up to 5 mg for kids, but she thinks that's a little too much.

Thanks a million ElizabethN!

FYI The neurologist/sleep specialist DD saw a couple of years ago started her on 3 mg of melatonin and said to use it every night. It worked great for a few months and then was not so effective. We tried 5 mg which did the same thing - worked for a few months then not so effective. A parent here posted that she was told to go to a micro dose - 300 mcg - and it worked better for both her and her child. I have not found the 300 mcg in stores but have to order it online. It has continued to work (falling asleep faster and staying asleep albeit with all the restlessness I mentioned) much longer than the higher doses did. And I definately feel better about using a smaller dose.

Great info Pemberley. As a data point for others - we give 1.5mg. DS8 (almost 9) is about 60 pounds. The 1.5mg is sure-fire, though I give it quite early, at 7:30pm targeting a 9:00 sleep time. Usually this is a couple nights per week - but frequency always increases as the school year drags on.

Thanks,
Sue

he will be able to sleep ... all on his own ... one day ... until then - follow your gut instinct ... there is nothing in-appropriate about having your children in your room at night - i fact most families on this planet sleep in one room at night ( only in so called " developed" countries children have their own bedrooms). It is a cultural thing to have kid's bedrooms- millions of strong independent men slept with their families :-)

When my kids were small and we co-slept I received plenty of well meaning advice regarding sleep " habits" : I should just let them cry it out - they would eventually learn - co-sleeping would make my kids co-dependant - or my favorite : they will NEVER learn to sleep on their own ...
I believe no child goes to college still nursing or sleeping in their parent's bed - and every child will become independent on heir own schedule ...

Enjoy the precious snuggle time with you son and ignore others ... How you sleep at night is between you and your family as long as everyone gets sleep things are ok :-)- think of the million other families all over the globe that are all sleeping in one room :-)